As far as public schools are concerned, Governor Easley got everything he wanted (and I didn’t):
? $60 million to create the EARN (Education Access Rewards North Carolina) Scholars program as part of the Learn and Earn program. Read the definitive analysis here.
? The More at Four pre-kindergarten program would expand by $56 million to add 10,000 more four year olds. By the fifth grade, these pre-K efforts usually do not amount to much for the average participating student.
? $37.5 million is earmarked to make up the lottery shortfall in class size reduction funds. Lottery sales have fallen 25 percent below projections. I call this the “Disadvantaged Lottery Supplemental Fund.”
? $17.6 million for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund. A report recently released by DPI found “serious issues” with the way school districts spend DSSF funds.
? Teachers will receive a 5 percent raise toward the mythical “national average.”
