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Public Schools First NC
@publicschoolsfirstnc.org
400 followers 37 following 290 posts
Statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting public schools.
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publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Public dollars should come with public accountability. Safety is a big deal! Currently, only ONE staff member at a private school has to pass a criminal background check. That's just wrong. Make schools that get vouchers follow the same safety guidelines as public schools!
November 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
The new representative selected to fill Rep. Brockman's seat due to his recent resignation is a former educator and High Point Council member. Good news! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...
High Point Council member Amanda Cook to replace Cecil Brockman in NC House seat
Cook, a former public school teacher, will replace Brockman, who resigned in October after he was charged with child sex offenses.
www.newsobserver.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Good that the federal government is back to work. Now let's get our state lawmakers working on a budget! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/g...
The longest government shutdown in U.S. history comes to a close
President Trump signed a bill to fund the government through the end of January, ending the shutdown that has dragged on for six weeks.
www.npr.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Rural communities are going to get hit again if the federal work visa fees go into effect. This story features Halifax County.
hechingerreport.org/federal-poli...
Rural teacher shortages could get worse thanks to Trump’s visa fee
In Halifax County, North Carolina, 101 of 156 teachers are international. A new $100,000 H-1B visa fee could effectively slam the door on future hires.
hechingerreport.org
November 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Governor Stein has called the NCGA back for a special session to work on a budget. “The Legislature must come back to Raleigh and do its job so that the 3 million North Carolinians who rely on Medicaid can get the care they need.” #nced #ncpublicschools
www.carolinacoastonline.com/regional/art...
Governor, for first time in 7 years, calls Legislature back to Raleigh
Legislators in North Carolina have been called back into session by Gov. Josh Stein to address Medicaid funding.
www.carolinacoastonline.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
An end to the federal government shutdown may be in sight. #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wfae.org/united-state...
Senators take first step toward reopening the government after historic shutdown
The Senate voted late Sunday evening on a compromise that could reopen the government following the longest shutdown in history.
www.wfae.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
At the State Board of Education meeting last week, members learned that new charter schools opening this year had much lower enrollments than projected, prompting discussion of closer scrutiny of policies and reliance on projections.
ncnewsline.com/briefs/laggi...
Lagging enrollment for new North Carolina charter schools raises questions about expansion • NC Newsline
None of the seven charter schools opened this fall met their projected enrollment the North Carolina State Board of Education heard.
ncnewsline.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Check out this podcast with NC's Superintendent of the Year Dr. Rodney Peterson! #nced #ncpublicschools
ncasapublicschoolmatters.buzzsprout.com/1986504/epis...
Episode 41 - A Conversation With Dr. Rodney Peterson, Superintendent Of Person County Schools, and 2026 NC Superintendent Of The Year - Public School Matters
This week, the NCASA Advocacy Team speaks with Dr. Rodney Peterson, Superintendent of Person County Schools and the 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the ...
ncasapublicschoolmatters.buzzsprout.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:33 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Still astonishing that our nation's leaders are going to court to stop funding food assistance when there is an emergency fund available for the expressed purpose of funding food assistance during a shutdown. The message couldn't be more obvious #nced #ncpublicschools
www.reuters.com/world/us/usd...
www.reuters.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:33 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
"NC's public school students are making history," NC's students again exceeded the nat'l average in AP passing rates & increased the # of students taking the exams. Investments in teacher training, student support, and paying exam fees is generating excellent returns!
www.wral.com/news/educati...
More NC students taking and passing AP exams than ever, new data shows
North Carolina's results have come following a bump in AP enrollment and changes to how the College Board scores exams.
www.wral.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Courts are moving quickly to ensure SNAP benefits don't lag any more than they already have. Let's hope the administration follows the ruling to fully reinstate benefits today! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
Trump administration ordered to restore full SNAP benefits by Friday
In failing to fully fund the food assistance program that covers 42 million low-income Americans, the judge said the government "failed to consider the harms" to people who rely on the benefits.
www.npr.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:40 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Lawmakers in Mississippi are pushing voucher expansion. This author understands the risks! The same is true for NC vouchers. #nced#ncpublicschools
www.djournal.com/opinion/colu...
'School choice' benefits few, costs all
Whether you call it "school choice" or vouchers, privatization of education socializes all the costs of education but privatizes all the benefits.
www.djournal.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:02 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Our state deserves better. VOTE! "NC's state budget is now nearly four months overdue. For public school employees, that means the school year started without a cost-of-living raise. ...the federal government shutdown brings new worries." #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wunc.org/education/20...
Federal halt to SNAP hits school staff, including those who serve your child's lunch
WUNC's series "From Politics to Paychecks" explores how political decisions are affecting NC educators' finances and families. Some of the lowest paid school staff rely on food benefits to feed their ...
www.wunc.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
"Roughly 19,500 North Carolina children depend on Head Start for their early education and care. Rural counties could be the hardest hit by the freeze, as many depend on Head Start funding for more than 20% of their child care slots." #nced #ncpublicschools
ncnewsline.com/briefs/some-...
Some Head Start programs in North Carolina poised to shut down as federal funds dry up • NC Newsline
At least some Head Start programs in North Carolina will close their doors Saturday as federal funding comes to a halt due to the government shutdown.
ncnewsline.com
November 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
There are SO MANY reasons why we need a strong US Department of Education. This former Sec. of Ed. who served under George Bush explains why what the current administration is doing is so bad. #nced #ncpublicschools
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org/p/the-former...
The former Republican education secretary who wants to save the Education Department
Margaret Spellings, who led the department under George W. Bush, says scrapping it would be "inefficient."
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org
October 31, 2025 at 12:37 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
The community has come together to support Winston-Salem/Forsyth Schools! A collaborative effort of non-profits - All in for Schools - has raised more than $3.6 million to help the district pay off its debt. They have other ways to help too! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wxii12.com/article/wsfc...
$11.4 million comes off Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' massive debt
Community fundraising efforts, debt forgiveness, and a new custodial services contract have contributed to a significant reduction in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ debt.
www.wxii12.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:18 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Again...lawmakers have left Raleigh without working on the budget. Instead, majority members passed new redrawn congressional districts to benefit Republicans in 2026. North Carolinians are tired of these games. We want real results for people! #nced #ncpublicschools
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/22/n...
NC congressional map giving GOP 11 of 14 seats wins final approval • NC Newsline
NC Republicans approve new congressional districts, dismantling a Black voting bloc, to add another GOP seat to help President Donald Trump.
ncnewsline.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
It's NC College Application Week. Most college waive application fees for students applying this week. Find out more! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/story/no-fee...
No fees for applying to NC college this week. Here's how students can take advantage
It's a part of College Application Week, which opened Monday at 7:30 a.m. It ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.
www.wral.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Shameful that NC lawmakers are redrawing US Congressional voting maps to try to get one more Republican into Congress and remove Dist. 1 Rep. Don Davis. Let's just have FAIR maps that allow our state true representation of its 50-50 split! #nced #ncpublicschools
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/21/g...
NC redistricting plan advances as Black leaders condemn new map • NC Newsline
Republicans push new map granting additional GOP seat closer to finish line. Previous occupant of that seat cries foul.
ncnewsline.com
October 22, 2025 at 12:09 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Comments are open on the redistricting of North Carolina's Congressional maps. The new maps were proposed to secure an 11 (R) to 3 (D) majority in NC in the 2026 election despite our nearly identical proportions of R and D in the state.
www.ncleg.gov/requestforco... See less
Request For Comments - North Carolina General Assembly
www.ncleg.gov
October 20, 2025 at 2:33 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
In its first year of vouchers in MO, 98% of the $ is going to religious schools. In NC, over 86% of voucher $ went to religious schools. What happened to separation of church and state? PUBLIC dollars belong in PUBLIC schools! #nced #ncpublicschools
missouriindependent.com/2025/10/13/n...
Nearly all state funding for Missouri school vouchers used for religious schools • Missouri Independent
As state funding begins directly fueling Missouri's voucher program, a majority of students use the money for religious education.
missouriindependent.com
October 20, 2025 at 1:09 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
What?!? NC has no budget & some lawmakers think it's more important to spend time making our congressional maps even more gerrymandered. Please refocus on your constituents. We need a budget w/fully funded public schools, Medicaid funding, & more - NOT political games.
www.wral.com/story/north-...
North Carolina lawmakers will attempt to redraw congressional districts
North Carolina is represented by 10 Republicans and four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican leaders in the state legislature plan to draw new lines in the coming weeks.
www.wral.com
October 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Why are we putting up with this mess? Churn = Harmful to student learning. Let's end this Schools Choose Their Students program and fully invest in the public schools that serve ALL students! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.ednc.org/as-vouchers-...
As vouchers near 100,000, first evidence of churn can be seen
While 98,917 NC students are receiving vouchers, more than 15,000 students who had vouchers in 2024-25 chose not renew.
www.ednc.org
October 13, 2025 at 1:08 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
It's typical gaslighting by voucher supporters. Enrollment in voucher program grows and it's attributed to people wanting more private options when the reality is that the growth is due to people ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOL getting the voucher. Same story in NC.
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
Out-of-staters misrepresent  Arkansas voucher data to champion school privatization - Arkansas Times
More families already in private schools are collecting LEARNS vouchers, but that doesn't indicate public school families are jumping ship.
arktimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:45 PM
publicschoolsfirstnc.org
Chronic shortages = big problems! "North Carolina had 1,544 special education teaching jobs last fall that were either vacant or filled by someone who didn't hold a qualifying teaching license. That's up from 616 in the fall of 2021." #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/story/nc-isn...
NC isn’t meeting federal special education requirements. State officials point to the teacher shortage
North Carolina will face more scrutiny from the federal government after failing to meet benchmarks of the federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.
www.wral.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:41 PM