By Douglas Shackelford and Paul Fulton CHAPEL HILL (December 3, 2025) – Once again, for the second time in seven years, the NC General Assembly has failed to pass a budget.1 Our state stands alone as the only one in the country unable to complete its most basic responsibility. While every other state managed to fund… READ MORE
General Assembly should pause tax cuts, invest $1B in affordability
By Sally Hodges-Copple N.C Budget & Tax Center RALEIGH (December 3, 2025) – Unless leaders in the North Carolina General Assembly change course before the end of the year, Jan. 1 will bring unhappy news for North Carolinians fed up with the rising cost of living. That’s the date that yet another round of state… READ MORE
Educators exit NC for better pay
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works RALEIGH (November 20, 2025) – North Carolina teachers and administrators are packing their bags and hitting the road after finding they can almost double their income in other states. Social studies teacher Nicholas Bailey transferred from Onslow County Schools in North Carolina to Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia… READ MORE
Don Martin: Forsyth steps up when its children face crisis
WINSTON-SALEM (November 16, 2025) – Last spring, we learned of vast overspending by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The total amount of overspending was unknown. The school district’s finance officer and superintendent retired abruptly, and Dr. Catty Moore was hired as the interim superintendent. At the Oct. 30 School Board meeting, the school district’s auditor,… READ MORE
A pay cut for teachers
RALEIGH (November 13, 2025) – Teacher pay remains an essential issue in North Carolina – an issue ultimately for our most precious resource: Our children. And it’s not going away. Despite its rapid growth, our state ranks an embarrassing 43rd in average K-12 teacher pay.1 It has seen ghastly attrition among its teacher workforce for… READ MORE
Legislators: Do your job
RALEIGH (October 15, 2025) – State legislators are due back in Raleigh Monday. And more than three months into the state’s budget year, they have yet to fulfill one of the fundamental duties we elect them to do: Adopt a state budget. Adoption of a budget is one of their primary jobs. Yet Senate President… READ MORE
Lessons Learned: NC struggles to recruit and retain teachers
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works RALEIGH (September 17, 2025) – Thousands of teachers leave North Carolina classrooms every year – and legislators ignoring the needs of educators could be to blame. Low pay and lack of respect, among other problems, are cited as reasons why school districts have trouble filling teaching positions. The latest… READ MORE
Lessons Learned: Spending per student among lowest in nation
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works RALEIGH (September 4, 2025) – Lack of funding is the root of many issues facing North Carolina public schools today, as legislators have failed to allocate enough funds to keep up with surrounding states, setting our state behind. GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is the value of goods and… READ MORE
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation: A note from Joy
Friends, Imagine this. It’s the first day of school and North Carolina’s kids are pumped to return to class. Every child walks into a bright classroom led by an excellent teacher who knows their name and story. shelves are stocked with supplies. Buses run on time. The cafeteria is serving healthy food. Parents and caregivers feel… READ MORE
Lessons Learned: Voucher expansion and public schools
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works RALEIGH (August 28, 2025) – North Carolina has seen a vast expansion of vouchers – taxpayer dollars for students to attend private schools – called “Opportunity Scholarships.” The state is projected to spend $731 million on its voucher programs this year, according to the NC General Assembly’s Fiscal Research… READ MORE
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