Education Matters

The General Assembly just wrapped up its short session for 2018 with a return date of November 27th after the fall election. This week we take a look at what happened in the short session in terms of education by talking to some key stakeholders. We’ll get their take on the hits and misses and what it all might mean for education in North Carolina. Guests: • Justin Parmenter, 7th Grade Teacher, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools • Dr. Shirley Prince, Executive Director, NC Principals & Assistant Principals’ Association • Rob Thompson, Deputy Director, NC Child • Alexandra Sirota, Director, Budget & Tax Center

Education has been a mainstay in the headlines in recent years here in North Carolina. This week we talk to one of the education newsmakers, Judge Bob Orr. He’s a former NC Supreme Court Justice who recently represented the State Board of Education in its lawsuit over a law passed by the General Assembly shifting much of the Board’s powers to State Superintendent Mark Johnson. We also talk to two journalists who work hard every week covering the rapidly changing news in policy and education. Guests: • Bob Orr, Former NC Supreme Court Justice • Colin Campbell, Editor, NC Insider • Liz Schlemmer, Education Reporter, WUNC Radio

The General Assembly is considering a Constitutional amendment to permanently cap income tax rates in North Carolina. If approved, it would appear on the November ballot along with other Constitutional amendments being proposed this week. With education making up more than half of the state budget, what impact could this amendment have on the state’s ability to fund public schools, community colleges and universities? Guests: • Dr. Patrick McHugh, Economic Analyst, Budget & Tax Center • Richard Bostic, Government Relations, NC School Boards Association • Vicki Lee Parker, Executive Director, North Carolina Business Council • Kel Landis, Principal, Plexus Capital

Two new reports are out exploring our state’s Opportunity Scholarship or private school voucher program. One study looks at the academic achievement of students who left public schools to attend private schools using state-funded vouchers. The other examines the type of curriculum being used by the private voucher schools. We talk to the authors of both studies on this week’s show. Guests: • Dr. Trip Stallings, Director of Policy Research, Friday Institute, NC State University • Dr. Anna Egalite, Assistant Professor, College of Education, NC State University • Bonnie Bechard, Study Author, League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear • Dr. Mary Kolek, Education Action Team Lead, League of Women Voters of North Carolina

North Carolina public schools have about $8 billion dollars in construction, renovation and repair needs. Cracked walls, outdated inefficient heating and cooling systems and school grounds that look like trailer parks due to the number of mobile classroom units are all too common. And now new school building requirements are being proposed to enhance school security. Will the General Assembly put a statewide school building bond on the ballot in November? How will all these needs be funded? Guests: • Dr. Rodney Shotwell, Superintendent, Rockingham County Schools • Sheriff Sam Page, Rockingham County • Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools • Mark Richardson, Education Steering Committee Chair, NC Association of County Commissioners

Last year the average pay for a principal in North Carolina ranked 50th nationally. The General Assembly responded with new investments and a new plan for how principals are paid. That plan has drawn a lot of criticism because, if unchanged, it will result in big pay cuts for experienced principals and perhaps a disincentive for talented principals to help turn around struggling schools. This week we’re joined by two former Principals of the Year and a district superintendent to discuss. Guests: • Dr. Stephen Gainey, Superintendent, Randolph County Schools • Dr. Carrie Tulbert, Principal, Concord Middle School, Cabarrus County • Melody Chalmers, Principal, E.E. Smith High School, Cumberland County

A new commission created last year – My Future NC – wants to develop a broad-based education agenda for North Carolina aimed at making the state more competitive. The cross sector group representing business, education, government, nonprofits and philanthropy plans to craft key goals for the state, along with policy proposals on how to achieve them. This week we’re joined by one of the My Future NC co-chairs as well as Commission’s Executive Director to talk about what they’ve learned so far and what comes next. Guests: • Kristy Teskey, Executive Director, My Future NC Commission • Dale Jenkins, CEO, Medical Mutual Holdings, Co-Chair, My Future NC

A legislative task force created by the General Assembly in 2017 is considering overhauling the way North Carolina funds public schools. This week we talk with the co-chairs of that task force, Senator Michael Lee from New Hanover County and Representative Craig Horn from Union County. We’ll discuss what they’ve learned so far and what’s next. Guests: • Sen. Michael Lee (R-New Hanover) • Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union)

The General Assembly is exploring breaking up the state’s largest school districts. At the same time a bill introduced last year would allow two communities outside Charlotte to create a system of separate public charter schools for their residents. This week we explore what’s next and the possible impact on school districts, students and the state. Guests: • Monika Johnson-Hostler, Chair, Wake County Board of Education • Rep. Chaz Beasley (D-Mecklenburg) • Mark Dorosin, Co-Director, Julius L. Chambers Center for Civil Rights

One is a brand new partnership between our state university teacher prep programs and K-12 public schools, while the other started in 1980 in Durham, but is now expanding to Western NC. This week we explore NC Lab Schools and the NC School of Science & Mathematics. Guests: • Dr. Todd Roberts, Chancellor, NC School of Science & Mathematics • Dr. Melissa Thibault, Vice Chancellor for Distance Education and Extended Programs, NCSSM • Dr. Sean Bulson, Interim Vice President for University & P-12 Partnerships, UNC System • Dr. Grant Hayes, Dean, East Carolina University College of Education

Black students are being suspended at rates three to four times higher than other students in school districts across North Carolina. Why is this happening and what can be done to address it? Guests: • Keith Sutton, Wake County Board of Education • Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Samuel D. Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University

New laws are being considered nationally and here in North Carolina in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. What is happening next in NC and can new policies help protect our children? Guests: • Rep. Linda Johnson (R-Cabarrus) • Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) • Dr. Ben Matthews, Chief School Operations Officer, NC Dept. of Public Instruction • Dr. Anna Yaros, Research Clinical Psychologist, RTI International

The shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has sparked a national debate about guns and how best to protect students. This week in the first of two shows, we talk with a teacher, a school psychologist and students for their unique perspectives. Guests: • Lisa Godwin, NC Teacher of the Year • Dr. Jim Deni, School Psychology Trainer & Professor, Appalachian State University • Zainab Antepli, Student, Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill • Erin McIndoe, Student, Green Hope High School, Cary

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest discusses top education issues including school safety & arming teachers, digital learning, school choice and state of public education. Guest: • Lt. Gov. Dan Forest

This week we visit two elementary schools – Rogers Lane Elementary in Wake County and Perry Harrison Elementary in Chatham County – to learn more about how these schools are using technology to personalize learning for students. Guests: • Shane Barham, Principal, Rogers Lane Elementary School, Wake • Erin Boecke, 3rd Grade Teacher, Perry Harrison Elementary School, Chatham

We talk with leaders from across North Carolina who gathered in Raleigh this week for the 2018 Emerging Issues Forum. This year’s Forum focused on investing early in our children’s education and health and the impact it has on our state’s economy. Guests: • Leslie Boney, Director, Institute for Emerging Issues • Brenda Howerton, President, NC Association of County Commissioners • Mark Richardson, Chairman, Rockingham County Commission • NC Governor Roy Cooper • Jim Hansen, Regional President, PNC Bank • Venessa Harrison, President, AT&T North Carolina • Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary, NC Dept. of Health & Human Services

A new report out this week says that while North Carolina and other Southern states made major advances in education in recent decades, achievement gaps between more affluent students and historically disadvantaged classmates have widened. Are voters ready to move faster to close the gap? Guests: • Alan Richard, Education Journalist • Howard N. Lee, Former State Senator

The Public School Forum of NC unveiled its Top 10 Education Issues for 2018 this week. A panel of legislative, education and business leaders discuss before a live audience in Raleigh at the 2018 Eggs & Issues Breakfast. Guests: • Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange) • Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union) • Lisa Godwin, 2017 NC Teacher of the Year • Sepi Saidi, President & CEO, SEPI Engineering

Last week, hundreds of parents, teachers and students descended on Raleigh calling on the General Assembly to address the K-3 class size mandate they say is creating chaos in schools across the state. Now that legislators have adjourned again without taking action, what will happen next? Guests: • Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Franklin, Wake) • Sen. Rick Horner (R-Johnston, Nash, Wilson) • Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools

At a time of intense focus by state leaders on how schools are funded in North Carolina, a new study out this week show a stark and growing gap between the highest and lowest-wealth counties in the state, particularly urban and rural school districts. We discuss with one of study’s authors and two key experts. Guests: • Lindsay Wagner, Senior Researcher/Writer, Public School Forum of NC • Dr. Eric Houck, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, UNC-Chapel Hill • Kris Nordstrom, Education Finance and Policy Consultant