RALEIGH (December 19, 2024) – North Carolina just learned that, for the second year in a row, it ranks 48th in the nation for per-pupil funding and 49th for how much of its economy it devotes to public schools.

“North Carolina is basically a situation of missed opportunity,” the research director at the Education Law Center told WUNC.¹

What a damning statement.

So as he prepares to enter office as the new State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Maurice “Mo” Green sees two major roles in the job: Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing distribution of more than $11 billion in state dollars.²

And Chief Advocacy Officer.

In the accompanying video, Green tells Public Ed Works he wants to improve student outcomes, increase academic performance and improve character among the state’s 1.4 million public school students.

“I believe we’ve entered an era where public education is being devalued. So I do want to lift back up public education, want to certainly uplift our educators in this environment as well,” Green says.

“I think it’s going to be a priority that we find ways to get more resources into our public school system, so that we can do the sorts of things we need to do for each and every one of our students – as well as pay our educators more.”

Green recognizes the limits of his office, though.

“Ultimately this position advocates for additional funding, but it’s the General Assembly that provides the funding, so that is a significant limitation,” he says.

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¹ https://www.wunc.org/education/2024-12-13/nc-ranks-49-school-funding-effort-education-law-center-making-the-grade

² https://www.dpi.nc.gov/documents/fbs/budget/24-highlights-final-postpdf/download?attachment; https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/know-the-issues/education-budget/.