5/17/13 Athens Drive stadium upgrade included in Wake school bond plan
“The issues with the football field at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh are well-documented, but some are balking at the idea that part of a Wake County school construction bond would go to finance an update.”
5/17/13 Mallard Creek High tests new CMS grade scale of 50-100
“Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is exploring changing its standard grading system, including switching to a 50-100 scale for tests, raising concerns from parents and teachers.”
5/16/13 Davie superintendent concerned over Senate bill on school properties
“The superintendent of Davie County Schools said Wednesday that a bill to give commissioners the option to take control of school properties in a county is the result of state Sen. Andrew Brock’s unhappiness with efforts to build one new high school.”
5/16/13 Wake boards continue pursuit of $810M school bond
“Wake County commissioners and Board of Education members appear to be moving closer to asking voters to approve an $810 million school bond that would allow for the construction of 16 new schools in the next 10 years.”
5/16/13 Tensions flare as Wake leaders discuss $810 million school bond
“Efforts to put a school construction bond referendum on the fall ballot continued Thursday, even as Wake County school board members and commissioners publicly squabbled over details of the plan.”
5/16/13 Senate backs Wake commissioners takeover of school construction
“Wake County commissioners on Wednesday neared their goal of taking possession of more than $1.8 billion in Wake school property, as the state Senate passed a bill that would strip the school board of its authority to own and build schools.”
5/16/13 Wake to announce superintendent finalists Tuesday
“The finalists for the position of Wake County schools superintendent will be announced on Tuesday, according to school board chairman Keith Sutton.”
5/16/13 Targeting is targeting
“However, in North Carolina the Republican majority in the Senate has passed a bill that strips the Democratically controlled Wake County school board of its job of owning, building and maintaining schools for the education of the youth of Wake County.”
5/16/13 Wake Co. commissioners and school board discuss final draft of school bond
“About 30,000 new students expected to make their way into Wake County classrooms over the next decade, and school leaders say it’s time to start planning ahead.”
5/16/13 SC could cut high school graduation exit exam
“But S.C high school students would no longer have to pass an exit exam to graduate if a state House bill becomes law – welcome news for the thousands of students who struggle year after year to pass both the test’s math and English sections.”
5/15/13 Proposal to shift control of Wake schools clears Senate
“A bill that would put the Wake County Board of Commissioners in control of area school buildings and land moved closer to passage Wednesday, despite criticism that it was politically motivated.”
5/15/13 Proposal to shift control of Wake schools advances
“A bill that would put the Wake County Board of Commissioners in control of area school buildings and land moved closer to passage Wednesday.”
5/15/13 Senate passes school construction bill
“Amid accusations that legislators were targeting the Wake County school system, the state Senate approved legislation Wednesday that would allow Boards of Commissioners in nine counties, including Wake, to take over building and owning schools.”
5/15/13 CMS school board to present $1.3 billion budget to county leaders
“The $1.3 billion proposal approved Tuesday night by the school board includes more money for technology, professional development and expanded options for students.”
5/14/13 House increases penalties for passing stopped school buses
“Drivers who pass a stopped school bus could lose their license and pay a fine in addition to being charged with a crime, under a proposal that the House approved unanimously Tuesday.”
5/14/13 CMS board passes $1.2 billion budget plan
“The Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools board unanimously voted Tuesday to accept Supt. Heath Morrison’s $1.2 billion budget plan for 2013-14, despite lingering questions over dollars expected from the county, state and federal governments.”
5/13/13 NC group resisting GOP changes to public schools
“North Carolina groups that want to protect the funding for traditional public schools are trying to raise opposition to legislative proposals to expand private-school vouchers and charter schools.”
5/13/13 Wake wise to announce superintendent final
“The Wake County school board is looking for a new superintendent of schools. Whether it will make the right choice remains to be seen, but it bodes well that it’s making the choice the right way.”
5/13/13 Separate public, charter school boards will hurt education
“Republicans in the state legislature are in the process of making a multitude of bad decisions with regard to public education.”
5/13/13 All-powerful parents
“In regards to Terry Stoops’ comment in the May 11 article “Advocates sound off on schools” that, “I think there is a renewed emphasis on giving power to parents,” I guess when a parent goes to see the pediatrician, she tells the doctor how to treat the child!”
5/13/13 A bad bill
“What problem are lawmakers trying to fix? SB236 would take the responsibility for designing, building and owning our public schools – schools that enable our quality instructional program – and transfer it all to the county commissioners.”
5/13/13 NC group resisting GOP changes to public schools
“North Carolina groups that want to protect the funding for traditional public schools are trying to raise opposition to legislative proposals to expand private-school vouchers and charter schools.”
5/13/13 Group works to bring issues of education to the forefront
“Private school vouchers, cutting education funding, and taking control from local school boards are some of the biggest concerns of a grassroots group called Public Schools First.”
5/12/13 Vote to set date for Myers Park gym
“For more than a decade, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials have talked of the need for a new gym at Myers Park High School.”
5/5/13 Cutting pre-K not good for anyone in NC – businesses, too
“To meet the future demand for a more skilled and educated workforce, North Carolina must invest in what works: high-quality early care and education.”
5/4/13 A test for teachers: The success of high achievers
“For schools like Ashley Park and other Project LIFT schools, where many students fall below grade level, one challenge is making sure stronger students aren’t neglected. Many families, including Ursula’s parents, believe they can boost their children’s odds of success by getting them into schools with larger numbers of high achievers. But the flight of top students stacks the odds against efforts to improve West Charlotte High and other LIFT schools.”
5/4/13 He’s eager to learn, needs individual help
“School has never been easy for Elijah Shirley.”
5/4/13 Bright, thoughtful, suspended 13 times
“When administrators reviewed files on the seventh-graders who would arrive in August 2011, Malik’s discipline problems stood out.”
5/3/13 Invest in education
“I couldn’t agree more with Rob Thompson’s April 30 Point of View piece about the importance of pre-K education (“Cutting Pre-K is a false savings”) and the related editorial May 1 (“Not kid stuff”).”
5/3/13 Public education best
“Yes, there is an important role in our country for private education. But Stam oversimplifies the financial impact of school choice on public education, as if it is simply a “dollar out, dollar in” equation.”
5/3/13 Not just a number
“After learning about the many children who will no longer be eligible for the N.C. Pre-K program, I have one question for legislators: Have they gotten to know any of these children and families or are they just numbers?”
5/3/13 Vouchers harm public schools
“North Carolina would benefit from a stronger public school system. A voucher program will not achieve that goal, and I believe would actually harm our public schools. I can see, however, how a voucher program would be a windfall for private schools.”
5/3/13 Tough times for K12, Inc.
“The virtual charter school company that launched an unsuccessful bid to open up an online-based school in North Carolina has been having a rough time in other states.”
5/2/13 Pre-K changes get first House OK
“A proposal to cut in half the number of children eligible for the state’s free Pre-K program won tentative House approval Thursday.”
5/2/13 NC charter school board bill delayed in Senate
“Debate on a bill that would create a new panel for managing North Carolina’s growing number of charter schools has been delayed until early next week.”
5/2/13 NC House tentatively passes pre-K restrictions
“A bill narrowing eligibility for North Carolina’s pre-K program is one step closer to passage.”
5/2/13 NC. won’t find any school miracles to copy in Florida
“As a Florida mom, I find it hard to watch states with veto-proof majorities push and pass the same education reforms that have hurt our children and harmed our public schools.”
5/2/13 Stam off base
“The truth is that a “traditional school” by law must accept and educate any person under the age of 16 regardless of any other factors. A private school will not do the same – they will take the cream from the public school, and if it curdles on them they will send it back.”
5/2/13 Vouchers harmful
“I have seen this argument many times before and in many different places. It is much older than Milton Friedman. It is also harmful to public and private schools alike.”
5/2/13 Disabled students need voice
“Leesville Road has a graduation rate of 48 percent for students with disabilities. It is one of the lowest in Wake County. It is below the county average of 59 percent and well below the state target of 70 percent.”
5/2/13 Obscure nonprofit fronts tuition, questions linger about Winston-Salem charter school
“A Winston-Salem charter school funded by North Carolina taxpayers says tuition for its global roster of students was paid by a non-profit group that links back to the school.”
“As members heard a legislative update during this month’s meeting of the State Board of Education, new chairman Bill Cobey took a moment to express his concerns about SB 337, which would create a new charter school oversight board.”
5/2/13 North Carolina charter school board bill delayed in Senate
“Debate on a bill that would create a new panel for managing North Carolina’s growing number of charter schools has been delayed until early next week.”
5/2/13 NC charter school board ready for Senate debate
“A bill that would create a new panel for managing North Carolina’s growing number of charter schools is now heading to the Senate floor.”
5/2/13 State Board of Education sets standards for college and career diplomas
“High school graduates will have seals on their diplomas in a few years showing whether they are ready for work or college under new criteria the State Board of Education adopted Thursday.”
5/1/13 Saying “no” to poor kids…again
“One would think that, at some point, the folks running the North Carolina General Assembly would start to feel at least a little squeamish and sheepish about the cuts they are inflicting upon programs designed to help give vulnerable people a chance to succeed in our ever-more-stratified society.”