RALEIGH (November 21, 2024) – Western North Carolina faces $53 billion in damage from Hurricane Helene. Yet state legislators voted this week to send $655 million in tax dollars to private schools this year and $6.5 billion through 2032-33.1 That’s outrageous. To think it won’t divert funds from public schools – especially schools in rural… READ MORE
By Tom Campbell RALEIGH (November 14, 2024) – With the elections behind us, we need to shift our focus to North Carolina issues. Without question one of our highest priorities is helping our neighbors in Western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. But there’s another perfect storm brewing – in public education. It is widely… READ MORE
RALEIGH (November 14, 2024) – It’s taken four years since it was in the jowls of a pandemic, but North Carolina is finally taking significant steps to increase its supply of nurses. “Right now, North Carolina has an urgent need for nurses. Our population is both growing and growing older, and the demands on the… READ MORE
RALEIGH (November 14, 2024) – As colleges across the country fret about declining enrollment, the UNC System saw 5,049 more students this year. Some 247,927 students are enrolled at UNC System schools, Senior Vice President David English told a UNC Board of Governors joint committee meeting yesterday, while public four-year universities nationwide saw enrollment decline… READ MORE
CHAPEL HILL (September 19, 2024) – More than 200 guests came together for a special evening to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Public Ed Works and the 90th birthday of its founder, Paul Fulton. Held in Fulton’s honor, the event shined a light on the current status of NC public education, advocated for increased investment… READ MORE
RALEIGH (November 8, 2024) – Attorney General Josh Stein won a decisive, 15 percentage-point victory Tuesday over Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to become North Carolina’s next governor. Stein will undoubtedly be friendlier to public education than Robinson. Stein has called for strong funding for public schools in line with decisions in the long-running Leandro school… READ MORE
RALEIGH (October 31, 2024) – North Carolina’s public schools are hurting. But you can make a difference when you vote in the coming days. Here are factors to keep in mind as you vote – particularly for state legislators, but also in races for governor, state superintendent, county commissioner, school board and local sales-tax… READ MORE
By Public Schools First October 26, 2024 During elections this year, voters in a number of counties will be asked to vote on local tax increases. Some, such as Union County and Orange County residents will vote on school bonds that will raise their property taxes to fund school construction projects. Others, such as Currituck,… READ MORE
CHAPEL HILL (October 23, 2024) – Does the university Charles Kuralt labeled “The University of the People” need more people? Even before he became permanent chancellor, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts appointed four working groups to study major issues facing Carolina: Enrollment; Engineering; Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI); and The university’s physical master plan.1 UNC-Chapel Hill… READ MORE
CHAPEL HILL (October 23, 2024) – When a proposed budget from the state House included $8 million in June to launch a College of Applied Science and Technology – in other words, an engineering school – at UNC-Chapel Hill, it caused a stir. It didn’t come to pass due to the legislature’s failure to update… READ MORE