By Tom Oxholm RALEIGH (April 16, 2026) – There is a crisis in North Carolina of underfunding our public schools (including Charters). Consider these facts: •NC is 50th in the country in average per pupil funding from state and local sources (Education Law Center’s December 2025 report). •Our ~100,000 teachers have the lowest starting pay… READ MORE
Still $159M short
MORGANTON (April 16, 2026) – At a time when enrollment is shrinking at colleges across the country due to demographic trends, the UNC System has an extraordinary story to tell – it’s growing. Yet North Carolina’s state legislature – particularly the state Senate – hasn’t recognized that growth. The state’s public universities increased enrollment by… READ MORE
Seismic
RALEIGH (April 9, 2026) – There’s been an upheaval in leadership of North Carolina’s General Assembly with the defeat of longtime Senate leader Phil Berger in a primary that spanned Rockingham and part of Guilford County.1 It’s difficult to overstate the influence Berger has had during 15 years as Senate President Pro Tem, deciding budget… READ MORE
Storm clouds
RALEIGH (March 26, 2026) – Stronger-than-expected growth means North Carolina will end 2025-26 with a $370 million (1.1%) surplus, according to a consensus forecast released this week by the governor’s budget office and the legislature’s Fiscal Research Division. But the state could still face a $360 million (1%) decrease in revenue in 2026-27 due to… READ MORE
NC voucher funding increases for 2026-27
By Shawnice Meador Public Ed Works RALEIGH (March 19, 2026) – When they return to session next month, North Carolina legislators will once again grapple with the state budget, a process that often leaves critical services – like our K-12 public schools – in a state of financial limbo. Yet, amid the political back-and-forth and… READ MORE
Still waiting on a state budget – and action for public schools
By Keith Poston WakeEd Partnership RALEIGH (March18, 2026) – North Carolina is still waiting for a comprehensive state budget, and once again our public schools are feeling the impact. Last week Governor Josh Stein, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, and House Speaker Destin Hall jointly announced the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on… READ MORE
Gambling on our children’s future
RALEIGH (March 11, 2026) – News Item: Over the past two years, North Carolinians have spent $13 billion betting on sports.1 Yet North Carolinians can’t come up with $1.5 billion to pay our public-school teachers properly. We rank 43rd among the states in average teacher pay, 39th in starting teacher pay,2 and 50th – 50th, as… READ MORE
NC is losing too many teachers!
By Public Schools First NC RALEIGH (March 7, 2026) – On March 4, NCDPI presented to the State Board of Education findings from the annual State of the Teaching and School Administration Professions in North Carolina. Data show that teachers are leaving the classroom at a rate of 10.11% (up slightly from last year’s 9.88%),… READ MORE
Former Iredell teacher urges legislators to invest in kids
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works STATESVILLE (February 26, 2026) – Former Iredell County teacher Jennifer Hodges sounds the alarm on growing classroom challenges across North Carolina. “Legislators need to give schools more money, basically,” Hodges said. “That’s it.” Hodges was a teacher for 25 years and retired in August 2024. She taught mostly… READ MORE
General Assembly owes UNC System $158M
RALEIGH (February 26, 2026) – At a time when many universities across the country are shrinking, the University of North Carolina System is growing – it saw enrollment increase by 1.6% in 2024 and 3.7% last fall, to 256,530 students.1 Yet North Carolina’s General Assembly isn’t doing its part to support those students, to the… READ MORE
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 7
- Next Page »