Opinion
‘Partisan’ reading bill passes easily
“If Catherine Truitt seeks to be seen as the state’s education leader, the route isn’t via reflexive partisan fealty,” the WRAL-TV editorialist snarled.
News
Lawmakers, Cooper again poised to cross swords over Opportunity Scholarships
Republicans in the N.C. House are advancing a bill that would expand and strengthen the state’s three school-choice scholarship programs that help low-income children and those with special needs attend a private school. The action sets up a coming confrontation with Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, who has consistently targeted the state’s largest school-choice program...
News
Number of homeschool families doubles in N.C. and nationwide during pandemic
It’s no surprise the number of homeschool families swelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the U.S. Census Bureau has released new data showing just how significant that growth has been. Nationwide, the number of homeschoolers doubled in 2020. Between April 25 and May 5, 2020, the Census reported 5.4% of all U.S. households with school-age...
Video
The Right AOC on Point: Cooper’s reckless political wish list offers important warning
John Locke Foundation CEO Amy Cooke, “The Right AOC,” explains why Gov. Roy Cooper’s new budget plan should send a warning signal to fiscal conservatives. Contact Amy at [email protected]. Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/TheRightAOC and https://twitter.com/TheRightAOC.
News
Bill would give school systems financial incentive to pay charters on time
Some N.C. state lawmakers want local public school systems to pay a penalty if they drag their feet in sending money to charter schools. An amendment adopted in a House committee meeting could help win the proposal more support. The House Education K-12 Committee needed less than 10 minutes on Tuesday, March 30, to approve...
News
GOP lawmakers introduce measure to 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. The Excellent Public Schools Act of 2021 would lay out a statewide roadmap for switching literacy instruction from a “look and say” method to the phonetic method. The bill would...
Opinion
Bill forcing schools to serve Muscadine juice should die on the vine
A bill filed in the House last month is meant to encourage healthy eating in schools, particularly healthy food grown or produced in North Carolina. Thing is, this bill does nothing of the sort. The measure, House Bill 136, promotes Muscadine grape juice in public schools and the state’s colleges and universities — as part...
Video
Locke’s Terry Stoops analyzes Gov. Cooper’s education budget plan
Dr. Terry Stoops, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, discusses Gov. Roy Cooper’s education budget for 2021-23. Stoops offered these comments during the March 29, 2021, edition of Spectrum News 1’s “Capital Tonight.” Watch the full interview here.
Video
Locke’s Terry Stoops discusses the new Civics Alliance
Dr. Terry Stoops, director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, discusses his participation in the National Association of Scholars’ new Civics Alliance. Learn more here: “The Civics Alliance is live.”
News
State Board of Education 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. The new rules are in accordance with new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that cut in half the social-distancing...
News
Cooper’s budget proposal seeks ‘opportunity in crisis,’ pushes for more spending, Medicaid expansion
Gov. Roy Cooper introduced a $55.9 billion budget proposal on Wednesday, March 24, that includes many of the goals he’s had since taking office. But this time he claims they’re needed due to the COVID pandemic. These goals include expanding Medicaid, borrowing $4.7 billion for infrastructure projects, and pushing state agencies to look at issues...
News
N.C. school leaders ask Biden’s pick for education secretary to protect charters
Charter school leaders in North Carolina are urging incoming U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to continue federal support and protection for charters moving forward. The N.C. Association of Public Charter Schools is one of 50 organizations signing on to a new letter calling on Cardona to follow a path of “equitable support for public...
