RALEIGH (June 1, 2023) – State legislators are moving to dramatically expand vouchers to attend private schools this year, lifting income limits on who qualifies and raising state spending on vouchers to more than half a billion dollars a year by 2032-33.1 Make no mistake – budgets are about choices. And state legislators are choosing… READ MORE
Senate budget: Simply not enough
RALEIGH (May 18, 2023) – It’s simply not enough. The budget proposal released this week by the state Senate is simply not enough to improve public education in North Carolina. There’s an undeniable link between education and a skilled workforce. Yet state legislators don’t seem to get that. At a time when average teacher pay… READ MORE
Recognition – finally – for nursing instructors?
RALEIGH (May 18, 2023) – While the NC Senate’s proposed budget for 2023-25 has plenty of shortcomings, there’s at least one bright spot for nursing instructors in North Carolina. The Senate proposal includes pay increases of 5% over the next two years for most community college and state university employees, plus an additional 10% increase… READ MORE
Vouchers: The privatization of NC public schools
By Don Martin and David Rice RALEIGH (May 5, 2023) – News Item: Average teacher pay in North Carolina public schools ranks 34th in the nation this school year, up from 36th last year. And North Carolina ranks 46th in starting teacher pay.1 How’s that for North Carolina pride? Let’s hear it for 34th! And… READ MORE
Lawmakers nibble, nibble, nibble at governor’s powers
RALEIGH (April 20, 2023) – Since colonial days, North Carolina has always had weak governors – call it lingering distrust of the King’s colonial toadies. And my, has it lingered – in fact, North Carolina was the last state in the union to give its governor veto power, in 1996.1 But repeated moves by the… READ MORE
CEOs: Solve NC teacher shortage to build better readers
RALEIGH (April 11, 2023) – Business leaders delivered a twofold message to state politicians Tuesday: North Carolina must expand its Pre-K program to build reading skills by 3rd grade. But we can’t do that unless we first solve the state’s teacher shortage. “It’s essential to the children of North Carolina, to North Carolina businesses and… READ MORE
The game just changed. Or did it?
RALEIGH (April 6, 2023) – The game just changed. Or did it? The elections last fall gave Republicans a veto-proof majority in the state Senate, but left them one vote shy of the 72 votes they need in the state House (3/5 of those present and voting) to overturn Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes. Rep…. READ MORE
House budget: Raises for teachers, but we can do better
RALEIGH (March 30, 2023) – The 2023-25 state budget rolled out this week by Republicans in the state House makes steps in the right direction on a number of fronts, but chiefly teacher pay. But this state can do better. It’s only the beginning in the budget process – the state Senate still needs to… READ MORE
Take care of those who take care of us
RALEIGH (March 16, 2023) – News Item: State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told a state House committee last week that he needs at least $7 million to increase pay in his department. Troxler, a popular Republican, told legislators his 2,033-person agency has 278 vacancies, and those vacancies are increasingly hard to fill. Even when jobs… READ MORE
What to do with an extra $3B?
RALEIGH (March 1, 2023) – North Carolina will finish the current budget year with $3.25 billion – 10.7% – more revenue than it budgeted for the year, state economists reported last month. The consensus report from economists for the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office attributed the additional funds to a smaller-than-expected decline in individual… READ MORE
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