In recent years, extremist groups have set up shop in hundreds of school districts in the U.S. – pushing the wave of book bans, erasure of school curriculum, and measures targeting Black and LGBTQ+ students.
For the longest while in North Carolina, K-12 public schools have been on the struggle bus.
Last month, Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system became one of the first districts in the state to implement measures from North Carolina’s very own version of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Classrooms across the state, particularly in Wake County schools, are feeling the impact of inadequate investments. For years, state Republicans have failed to pass state budgets that include meaningful investments towards the public school infrastructure – leading to numerous school districts facing out of date facilities.
Recently, the New Hanover County school board voted to temporarily remove the book “Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, And You” from their district’s classrooms following a complaint made by one parent. The decision came after a five-hour public hearing where Superintendent Dr. Charles Foust and Assistant Superintendent Dawn Brinson argued against Katie Gates, the lone complainant and parent of a former Ashley High School AP Language and Composition student.
The decision to ban the book “Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, And You” was made after a five-hour public hearing where the district superintendent and assistant superintendent argued against the ban.
At a roundtable discussion last week, local education leaders and Governor Roy Cooper called for state lawmakers to include meaningful investments towards public schools in the budget.
The Alamance-Burlington School System had to delay the start of the school year two times due to toxic mold present in at least 25 of its 37 schools.
Since 2021, right-wing groups and extremist politicians have spearheaded efforts to intimidate educators on the national and statewide levels. According to a study by PEN America, more than 400 pieces of “educational intimidation” pieces of legislation have been introduced since 2021.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper recently announced that he is allocating $1 million in federal funding to bolster school bus driver training.