Education

North Carolina parents and educators are banding together to demand more resources and support for public schools. “Public School Strong” is an emerging group with over 500 members from various regions across the state. According to WRAL News, the group held a rally in Raleigh on Wednesday, November 15th. The parents and teachers marched and presented Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt with their survey showing that most North Carolinians support public schools.

A new report by The Public School Forum of North Carolina highlights the ongoing challenges with teacher recruitment and retention across the state.

Last week, the State Board of Education passed new policies that are set to go into effect for the upcoming school year. Under the new state budget, school districts are required to offer a sequence of courses that would allow high school students to graduate in three years instead of the traditional four years.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper announced plans to direct $1.4 million in federal funding to help schools expand breakfast programs. The funds will be used to provide grants for school districts and charter schools to help expand student participation in school breakfast programs, according to the governor’s press release.

Late last month, the U.S. Department of Education announced that North Carolina has been rewarded with $24 million in grants to schools to recruit and retain teachers.

The conservative-leaning state Supreme Court has agreed to Republican legislative leaders’ request to revisit a landmark education lawsuit. 

A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union found that students of color and students with disabilities are disproportionately referred to law enforcement in North Carolina.

Johnston County School board members have voted to approve book bans in not only classrooms but school libraries. The Joco school board, which has made headlines in the last few years, approved the removal of any books with LGBTQ content from elementary school libraries due to North Carolina’s new Don’t Say Gay law.