Education

Pre-K Hangs In Balance As Budget Negotiations Start

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:29:35 +0000

Republican leaders in the legislature are getting ready to hash out their own versions of the state budget. And the House, Senate and Governor’s version are quite different when it comes to pre-K.

North Carolina has long been praised for its commitment to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. But all three of the current budgets make cuts to those programs, to varying degrees.

Report: NC Teacher Ed Programs Failing

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:02:23 +0000

Four North Carolina teacher training programs are among the worst in the country, according to a report from the National Council on Teacher Quality.

Teacher education programs have come under fire from many different sides, but the latest report from the National Council on Teacher Quality paints an especially bleak picture.

Wake Picks Merrill As New Superintendent

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:03:00 +0000

As homecomings go, this one was slightly delayed for James Merrill. He spent 16 years in a variety of administrative posts in the Wake County Schools in the 1980s and ‘90s, rising as high as associate superintendent. Once he became the top candidate earlier this month after a series of interviews and public events, it took another few weeks to iron out the contract details.

He says it was worth the wait.

Wake School Board Split On Superintendent

Dave DeWitt — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:29:15 +0000

Tonight, the Wake County School Board will continue its discussions on hiring a superintendent.

It’s been more than two weeks since the three finalists for Wake Superintendent visited the district for a hectic few days of interviews and public appearances. Wake School Board Chair Keith Sutton initially indicated a new superintendent would be hired within a few days, but delays have pushed it back to tonight, at the earliest.

Forsyth Co. School District Fails To Report Possible Crimes

Jeff Tiberii — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:30:00 +0000

Following a two-year investigation by the SBI, the Forsyth County district attorney says it appears that about 20 possible crimes were not reported by local school officials to law enforcement. D.A. Jim O'Neill called on the State to examine reporting practices by the school district. The investigation turned up about 20 cases that were eventually prosecuted but not properly reported. The district maintains the lack of reporting was a misinterpretation of the law and not malicious.

Two Teacher Training Programs, One Spot In The Budget

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:57:00 +0000

Back in the 1980s, North Carolina had a serious teacher problem. There were shortages in much of the state, but the bigger problem wasn’t how many teachers, but who they were.

“We had a real need to raise the scholastic profile of candidates for teaching and also to increase the numbers of males and minorities in teaching,” remembers Jo Ann Norris, President and Executive Director of the Public School Forum of North Carolina.

Veterans Affairs Chief Visits UNC

Dave DeWitt — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:56:25 +0000

The UNC System hosted the federal government’s top Veterans Affairs official yesterday. V.A. Secretary Eric Shinseki met with UNC leaders to discuss expanding higher education opportunities for military veterans.

Several UNC system schools have long and proud histories of educating military veterans. And as General Shinseki pointed out, veterans have a lot to offer the universities and the state of North Carolina as students and employees.

Report: NC High School Grad Rates Dip

Dave DeWitt — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:01:28 +0000

North Carolina’s high-school graduation rate is headed in the wrong direction. In the past two years, the state’s rate has dropped by about one percent.

Two years ago, North Carolina beat the national graduation rate average for the first time. Two years later, the state is back below the national average, as rates have gone up across the country and North Carolina’s have dipped.

Poetic Justice: Graduating High School At 16

Kane Smego — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:00:00 +0000

This school year, WUNC partnered with the group Sacrificial Poets to host a series after-school programs called Poetic Justice. They're designed to help under-served youth turn their life-stories into poetry and performance art.

This semester they were at Northern High School in Durham. That's where poet Kane Smego, a writer and youth leader with Sacrificial Poets, met Justavis Monique Brooks. The 16-year-old senior graduates from high school today.

President Obama Touts Technology In Mooresville

Dave DeWitt — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 20:13:52 +0000

President Barack Obama used a visit to a North Carolina middle school as an opportunity to promote a new White House effort to expand broadband internet access in schools.