Education
When students have the opportunity find the best context and pathway in which to develop their unique talents, they thrive. We belive that transparency is necessary to help students and parents make informed decisions. American democracy depends on the civic literacy of its citizens. Restoring a founding-document-based curriculum through K-16 is essential.
Leandro Order Begins to Right the Ship
Last year, Judge David Lee ordered the controller, state treasurer, and Office of State Budget and Management to take $1.75 billion from state coffers without legislative approval and distribute the…
It’s Finally Out
Highlights of the North Carolina Public School Budget was released last week. The electronic document, commonly referred to as HIghlights, is produced annually by the North Carolina Department of Public…
Teachable Moment: How Do North Carolina Schools Adopt Textbooks?
Last week, Club for Growth Action aired a campaign advertisement supporting Rep. Ted Budd that referenced a 2014 John Locke Foundation blog post about Governor Pat McCrory’s appointments to the…
Public Education: What Rights Do Parents Currently Have and Not Have?
If parents and guardians want to be effective advocates for their children, they need to have a clear understanding of the rights they possess and those they do not under…
The Next Battle: Revisions to North Carolina Science and Health Standards
In July, the N.C. State Board of Education approved the remaining supplementary materials accompanying revised social studies standards approved earlier this year. Barring intervention by the General Assembly, state education…
Another School Bond for WCPSS? Look Closely at the Trendlines
If all goes as planned, Wake County voters will be asked to approve a nearly $900 million bond referendum this November. Most of the bond ($530.7 million) will provide funds…
A Parents’ Bill of Rights for North Carolina
The John Locke Foundation believes it is the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of our children. One of the best ways for parents to…
Comment Submitted in Response to Proposed Charter School Program Rules
I strongly oppose proposed rules that would impose onerous and ultimately harmful requirements for competitive grants under the federal Charter Schools Program. The proposed “community impact analysis” is among the…
Judge Robinson listens and Leandro-watchers wait
Today Judge Michael Robinson held his first substantive hearing as the presiding judge in the long-running Leandro school funding case. Robinson has a steep learning curve. The North Carolina Supreme…
More Money for the Wake County Schools? Yes, Superintendent is Asking for More.
That nod to the famous line from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist may be what some Wake County commissioners are thinking after learning that Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Superintendent…
Report Card on Covid Response Gives North Carolina a ‘B’
What were the results of states’ actions to mitigate COVID-19? Three experts tackled this question and published their results in a recent NBER working paper titled “A Final Report Card on the…
It’s Time to Rethink the Way We Pay Teachers
The Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) unveiled an initial proposal to redesign North Carolina’s teacher salary system. The PEPSC proposal offers a performance-based, seven-tier system that would require…