Cole del Charco

Fletcher Fellow

Cole del Charco is WUNC’s Fletcher Fellow for education policy reporting. He grew up in Hickory, North Carolina, graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.A. from the School of Media and Journalism and spent his first year out of college working with WFAE, Charlotte’s NPR member station. Cole loves pine trees, sunny days and the mountains of North Carolina.

Tweets at @ColedelCharco

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School Bus Driver Shortage A Constant For NC Districts

By • Sep 9, 2019
Cole del Charco / WUNC

Most school years across North Carolina are well underway, and that means giant yellow school buses are out on the roads each morning and afternoon. But just as universal as the first day of school is a near-constant bus driver shortage in districts across the state. 

Durham's Northgate Mall Prepares For Dorian Evacuees

By • Sep 4, 2019
Cole del Charco / WUNC

As Hurricane Dorian nears the North Carolina coast, shelters across the eastern part of the state are preparing for evacuees from coastal communities where the Governor ordered a mandatory evacuation.

At the Northgate Mall in Durham, state officials have turned a former Sears department store into a hurricane shelter. The group had set up more than 500 beds before noon and said it could add another 500 if needed.

After Years Of Challenges, Jones County Opens State-Of-The-Art School

By • Aug 27, 2019
Cole del Charco / WUNC

Jones County has seen its share of destruction and economic challenges. It was one of the poorest counties in North Carolina, even before Hurricane Florence swept through last September, decimating two of the county’s six school buildings. Students in the district missed 25 days of school.

N.C.'s 12 Largest School Districts Want To Delay New Reading Assessment Tool

By • Jun 27, 2019
N.C. Department of Public Instruction
Dave DeWitt

In a letter to the State Board of Education, district superintendents say they need more time to train educators to use the new iStation program before using it to assess K-3 readers.

UNC Names Interim Police Chief

By • Jun 26, 2019
UNC Police

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has named Thomas Younce as its new interim police chief.

Company That Lost NC’s K-3 Reading Assessment Contract Files Protest

By • Jun 25, 2019
children reading
U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons

The company that North Carolina K-3 schools used for reading assessments has filed a formal protest over the Read To Achieve contract it lost. 

Where The Governor And Legislature's Budgets Differ On Education

By • Jun 21, 2019
Since the recession, school districts are increasingly relying on donors and foundations, like the Guilford Education Alliance, to stock their classrooms.
Jess Clark / WUNC

It's the second time Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is proposing a budget to the General Assembly, but this time he has some negotiating power. Last time, the Republican legislature had a veto-proof majority, but now the two groups will have to find a compromise.

Bill Cuts Teachers A Break On Licensure Exam

By • Jun 13, 2019
Teacher in classroom with students.
woodleywonderworks / Flickr - Creative Commons - https://flic.kr/p/auPuAq

Teachers across the state of North Carolina who haven’t been able to pass a licensure exam could get an extension from the General Assembly.