In the ongoing debate over the University of North Carolina and its lobbying against the REACH Act, the UNC System put forth a proposal called “Foundations of American Democracy.” While at first this may seem like a step towards correcting UNC’s lack of civics education, a second look suggests it could be a strategic maneuver...
Despite emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina public schools continue to experience increased incidences of crime, violence, and suspensions, according to data from the NC Department of Public Instruction. A DPI report released at the end of January showed that public schools reported 13,193 acts of crime and violence in the 2022-2023 school year,...
The state Court of Appeals has reversed its own decisions in two cases involving school buses that caused damage while delivering meals to students during the COVID-19 pandemic. In decisions released Tuesday, Judge Jeff Carpenter explained the new rulings favoring the Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Alexander County school boards.
Despite signs of progress, the latest test results show that most North Carolina students have yet to regain the ground lost during the pandemic. There are at least three barriers to academic recovery. First is chronic absenteeism. Compared to five years ago, the number of chronically absent students has doubled. Second, there has been a...
The state Supreme Court split, 4-2, Friday on allowing Justice Phil Berger Jr. to take part in next week’s hearing in the 30-year-long education funding dispute commonly known as Leandro. That means all seven justices will take part in oral arguments on Feb. 22.
Can parents sue a private school when the school expels their children merely because the parents asked questions about what is being taught and expressed concerns for their children’s health and safety? This is the question currently before the NC Court of Appeals. Our two children were expelled from their private school, Charlotte Latin, by a...
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper hit the road in February on a campaign in eastern North Carolina to blast Opportunity Scholarships, the state’s voucher program that provides a pathway to a private school education for tens of thousands of families across the state. The governor’s office claims that vouchers will have a draconian impact on local...
In 2022, North Carolina spent $16.7 billion in state, federal, and local funds on its public schools. Those funds were distributed to local schools using 50 different funding formulas. People frequently focus on how much money was distributed, which is important. Equally important, however, is to evaluate how that money is distributed. In recent years,...
Students seeking refunds from the University of North Carolina System for COVID shutdowns in spring 2020 submitted their arguments this week to the state’s highest court. In Dieckhaus v. Board of Governors of UNC, the high court could decide whether a state law designed to shield the university from COVID-related lawsuits was constitutional.
The state Court of Appeals is withdrawing its opinion favoring a Charlotte private school in its dispute with parents of two expelled students. A court order issued Monday offered no explanation for the decision.
January’s numbers for labor force participation are in, and it’s looking like Gen Z has finally caught on — they’ll need to work to pay their own way. Unfortunately, in North Carolina, they’re already late to the game. On Feb. 2, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published new data for January employment, revealing that unemployment...
