RALEIGH (February 12, 2026) – North Carolina is making progress toward the post-secondary attainment goal it adopted in 2019. But it still has a ways to go. “Preparing people for work is central to North Carolina’s future,” John Fraley, the chair of a collaboration called myFutureNC that oversees the effort, said during an update Thursday…. READ MORE
Bladen superintendent: ‘Do the right thing’ for kids
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works ELIZABETHTOWN (February 13, 2025) – Bladen County is one of 78 rural counties in North Carolina suffering the consequences of state underfunding in public schools. Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jason Atkinson grew up in the county that’s located between Fayetteville and Wilmington and came back in 2021 to… READ MORE
Is the NC Senate letting our state down?
By Doug Shackelford and Paul Fulton Public Ed Works RALEIGH (February 12, 2026) – It’s been nine months since the North Carolina House passed a bipartisan budget that would finally give our schoolchildren the support they need and the teachers the pay they deserve. The House plan would raise starting teacher salaries to $50,000 next… READ MORE
Hugh McColl on NC schools: ‘Let’s don’t let ‘em down’
CHARLOTTE (February 12, 2026) – The former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America knows a thing or two about building talent. But he’s alarmed at what he sees happening to North Carolina’s public schools. “I’ve been very disturbed to find that we’ve losing ground in the schools,” Hugh McColl says in the accompanying video…. READ MORE
Rockingham superintendent weighs in on underfunding
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works EDEN (February 5, 2026) – North Carolina’s public schools are grappling with underfunding and uncertainty because state legislators haven’t passed a budget for the current year. Dr. John Stover is in his fourth year as superintendent of Rockingham County Schools, previously working for the Washington, D.C. public school system…. READ MORE
Bilas on teacher pay: ‘That’s how North Carolina wins’
CHARLOTTE (February 5, 2026) – ESPN basketball analyst Jay Bilas doesn’t hesitate to share opinions. And he has thoughts about how North Carolina treats its public school teachers. In the accompanying video, Bilas recounts how he and his wife raised their children here and sent them to North Carolina schools, living in Charlotte for the… READ MORE
A chance to course correct in Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL (January 29, 2026) – The resignation of John Preyer from the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees1 creates an opening for the university to move away from unnecessary politicization and divisive overreach. Embracing shared governance and proven best practices would not only strengthen institutional credibility, but reaffirm the university’s commitment to academic excellence and public… READ MORE
64% increase in Teaching Fellows!
RALEIGH (January 29, 2026) – The NC Teaching Fellows – which offer forgivable loans of up to $10,000 a year to aspiring teachers at our state’s universities – have seen extraordinary growth in the past year despite limits imposed by state legislators. And that’s cause for celebration. The program grew from 575 would-be teachers in… READ MORE
Cabarrus beginning teacher named finalist for award
By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works CONCORD (January 29, 2026) – A new North Carolina teacher is sharing more about her journey to teach as she’s named an award finalist. Kennedy Elmore is one of 27 educators in the running for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year Award. The… READ MORE
UNC should not close its Global Studies Centers
By Lloyd Kramer CHAPEL HILL (January 22, 2026) – The recent announcement that UNC-Chapel Hill plans to close its six thriving Global Studies Centers is the wrong response to current financial and political challenges. Although I retired from the History Department’s faculty in 2024, this plan for closing the Centers has provoked my Tar Heel… READ MORE