State Education Budget Writers Seeking Comment

The joint House-Senate Education Appropriations Subcommittee is hosting a public comment session today in the State Legislature. They want to hear what people have to say on proposed budget cuts to education.

State lawmakers have been busy remaking public education so far this session, working to eliminate end of class tests and the cap on charter schools. But budget cuts are likely to have an even greater impact on schools. Thousands of teachers could be laid off statewide, and universities and community colleges are preparing for ten or possibly 15 percent reductions. Democratic Governor Bev Perdue and Republican leaders in the house and senate are far apart on how much to cut in education. The preliminary GOP budget spends about $760 million less on schools and universities than Perdue’s version.