Gallup Poll finds North Carolinians value education

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RALEIGH (Nov. 28, 2018) – North Carolinians think increased educational opportunity will help them and their state advance – yet they have substantial concerns about cost and access. Those are among the findings of a Gallup survey for the myFutureNC Commission, a group of leaders from education, business, nonprofits and the faith and policy communities…. READ MORE

Teachers come first

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RALEIGH – Gov. Roy Cooper’s recommended budget for 2018-19 heads in the right direction by prioritizing education over tax cuts and offering an average raise of 8% to North Carolina teachers, whose pay ranked 37th in the country in a recent survey.1  The two-year budget state legislators adopted last year included average raises for K-12… READ MORE

Strong support for raising NC teacher pay

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HIGH POINT – A poll released last week revealed overwhelming support among Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated North Carolinians for raising public school teacher pay to the national average. So if it’s a political slam dunk, why don’t legislators do it? The High Point University Poll found that 85 percent of North Carolinians agree that public… READ MORE

NC budget: Positive short-term, threatening long-term

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RALEIGH (June 22, 2017) – At first glance, the budget compromise unveiled this week by legislative leaders seems encouraging. It would grant K-12 public school teachers an average raise of 3.3% this year and 9.6% over two years.  It would give significant raises to K-12 principals, a priority of the group BEST NC. It would… READ MORE

NC’s disinvestment: More tuition, more debt, fewer teachers

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RALEIGH – Continuing our look at North Carolina’s disinvestment in public education, a shortfall in state support has meant higher tuition and more debt for university students and fewer teachers for students in our K-12 public schools. Though higher education is a public good that benefits us all – and our state constitution requires legislators… READ MORE

A long-term slide in NC education spending

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RALEIGH – Since the mid-2000s, North Carolina has seen a general decline in expenditures per student in our K-12 public schools, community colleges and public universities. Likewise – despite a modest bump the past few years – the state’s rank in average K-12 teacher salaries has declined since 2000. Figures on average teacher salaries released… READ MORE

Legislature votes to repeal HB2

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Restoring NC’s reputation begins RALEIGH (March 30, 2017) – The N.C. House and Senate both voted today to repeal HB2, the notorious “bathroom bill” that stigmatized North Carolina and its universities in the eyes of corporate leaders, job candidates and athletic leagues nationwide. And Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill within hours. “It’s not a… READ MORE

Invest in innovation – or leave it to chance?

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GREENSBORO – One thing that makes a great university is strong state support. In the accompanying video, UNC Greensboro Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. says North Carolina has a history of doing just that. “We’re at a watershed in American public higher education,” Gilliam says.  “For so long, the states subsidized state universities at high… READ MORE