Republicans scheme to further erode public education in North Carolina
Nicholas Kristof recently wrote an opinion piece in the NYT describing the progress Mississippi has made improving its public school standings. Through an all-out effort to get every child to read by the end of third grade, an effort informed by extensive reliance on research and metrics, Mississippi has shown that it is possible to raise standards even in a state ranked dead last in the country in child poverty and hunger. However, in the NAEP (National Assessments of Educational Progress) exams, in fact, Mississippi fourth graders in poverty are now tied for best performers in the nation in NAEP reading tests, and they rank second in math. Mississippi has moved from near the bottom to the middle for most of the exams. Mississippi is usually last in any school rankings leading other states to exclaim “Thank God for Mississippi!”
Meanwhile, the North Carolina Republican dominated legislature seems determined to move NC public schools in the opposite direction, perhaps to occupy the newly vacated last spot. The categories of their attacks on public schools include:
Minimal raises for teachers averaging $250 over two years in a system in which beginning teachers already rank 46th in pay among states.
Even though the NC Constitution includes a provision to guarantee a quality education for all students, the Republican dominated legislature, while sitting on $6 billion in reserves, refuses to pay the court ordered Leandro decision of $510 Million to allow children in low-income counties to access a quality education.
Transferring approval of new charter schools from the State Board of Education to The NC legislature.
But the worst Republican idea is the scheme to expand so-called “opportunity grants” that take public money from public schools and give it to parents of private school students, regardless of income. Their plans are to add $56 million a year to a fund which will support private school education until 2032-2033 when the fund will reach $311,540,000 for that year and each year thereafter. This proposal would do great harm to our already struggling public schools and is opposed by bi-partisan groups including Superintendents of Public Schools. See where in our state the impact of that this scheme would be felt most harshly on the Carolina Forward website.
Former Democratic Governor Beverly Purdue delivered an opinion piece to WRAL news that describes her approach to leadership on school funding when she was Governor and was facing an 11% deficit in the state budget instead of $6 billion in reserves. In spite of the shortfall, she was able to steer more funds to public schools because she acted on her strong belief in the value of public education. Voters can count on Democrats to support North Carolinians’ constitutional right to a quality public education for all students.
Notes:
Public Schools First FAQ on school vouchers Research shows private school vouchers don’t work for students and harm public schools
Senate Bill 406/House Bill 823 Impact of school vouchers bill Senate Bill 406/House Bill 823