N.C. Superior Court Judge David Lee, the presiding jurist in the decades-long Leandro lawsuit, said at a hearing Tuesday, April 13 that he won’t tell lawmakers how to spend money on public education.
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It could be years before students recover from COVID-era learning loss
Epidemiologists and infectious disease experts have consistently maintained that the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus among young children is low. But that hasn’t stopped policymakers like N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper from — for most of the past year — keeping in-person instruction closed for all K-12 students. Many families have suffered as a result.
Cooper signs measures to address effects of pandemic on students
Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday, April 9, signed two bills into law designed to help students who lost more than a year of in-person learning because of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
N.C. average teacher pay $54,392 per year, second best in Southeast
Public school teachers in North Carolina receive an average annual salary of $53,392 for the current school year, according to the latest figures from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. That puts the state second best in the Southeast — behind Georgia — in average teacher pay.
Legislature sends Cooper bills designed to address learning losses
Two bills sitting on Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk are designed to remediate learning losses for K-12 students left behind by classroom closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Partisan" reading bill passes easily
On March 31, the North Carolina Senate passed the hugely controversial SB 387, titled the Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021, by margin of 48 senators in favor, none opposed.
Legislature Sends Governor Bill to Provide New Summer School Option for Families
Raleigh, NC – Today, the General Assembly gave unanimous approval to legislation to create a new summer school option for students who have fallen behind due to remote learning.
Bill would promote early literacy among N.C. public school students
Republican legislators in the N.C. Senate are pushing forward a bill meant to improve literacy among North Carolina public school students by the third grade.
State board approves 3-feet social distancing for return to classrooms
The N.C. State Board of Education has voted unanimously to switch social-distancing requirements under a “Plan A” return to public school classrooms to 3 feet rather than the previous six feet.
Freshman rep takes up decade-long push for mountain college
For years, Tri-County Community College has wanted to offer in-state tuition to Georgians who live in one of those counties. That, administrators say, would help fill empty seats in their classrooms while also funneling more people to North Carolina employers and universities.
Bill would give $1,000 tax credit for each homeschooled child
Interest in homeschooling has surged in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Republican lawmakers in the state Senate want to give these families tax relief to help meet expenses.
New board members chosen to lead in governing UNC System
The General Assembly is set to add new members to the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors.
Lt. governor announces task force on academic bias in public schools
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson announced on March 16 the creation of a task force dedicated to giving “students, parents, and school faculty a voice to speak out about cases of bias, inappropriate materials, or indoctrination they see or experience in public schools.”
Another North Carolina county joins satellite internet pilot program to connect students
Warren County students will soon be able to access high-speed internet via satellite technology, as the county joins Hyde and Swain counties in a pilot program aimed at improving internet access to support remote learning.
Teacher’s union continues opposition over school reopening law
Even as a bill to reopen schools across North Carolina garnered unanimous bipartisan support and was fast-tracked through the legislature, North Carolina’s teacher’s union released a statement blasting Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and lawmakers from both political parties for the compromise.
Senate leader, governor negotiating agreement to reopen schools
N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, says lawmakers are negotiating with Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, on a plan to reopen schools.
Parents, school leaders describe consequences of remote-only learning
Parents in 14 North Carolina public school districts would have the option of sending their children to full-time, in-person instruction under a local bill approved by the N.C. House K-12 Education Committee on Tuesday, March 9.
Cooper, state lawmakers announce school reopening deal
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican lawmakers have reached an agreement on reopening public schools for in-person instruction under a compromise plan that returns most decision-making autonomy to local school boards.
Efforts to reopen N.C. classrooms ramp up, despite Cooper’s veto
The N.C. State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday, March 4, calling on all public school districts to give parents the option of in-person learning by the end of March. The education board’s action is the latest step in a growing consensus to swiftly reopen school classrooms across the state.
Senators introduce bill increasing attendance at high school events
Republican Senate lawmakers have introduced a bill that would change the 100-person capacity limit at outdoor high school sporting venues.