Public School Forum of North Carolina News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

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MARY ANN WOLF: N.C. can and should be a leader in school nutrition

Monday, May 19, 2025 -- Feeding students well can improve educational outcomes while also stimulating rural economies. Students' well-being matters and school is where their full humanity is recognized and supported.

MARY ANN WOLF: 'Community Connections - The power of rural schools and local businesses

Monday, April 21,2025 -- In rural North Carolina communities partnerships between local businesses and public schools benefit the entire community. Students gain access to new resources and opportunities, educators receive vital support and businesses become more deeply connected to the future.

MARISA BRYANT: The cold truth about schools without heat

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024 -- It is long past time to repair our schools, invest in our school systems' workforce and ensure every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe and warm environment. Anything less is unacceptable.

MARY ANN WOLF: Beyond the 2024 elections

Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 -- With new terms around the corner, the incoming elected and incumbent officials have the opportunity to respond to what North Carolinians care about by increasing resources and support for local public schools so that they can better prepare our children for life.

LAUREN FOX: Private school vouchers are unpopular, failed policy

Monday, Nov. 18, 2024 -- Rather than taking taxpayer dollars from already underfunded N.C. public schools and giving them to private and religious schools, let's ensure local public schools can hire more quality teachers, improve choice in classes and trade skills and modernize schools so all students have access to a high-quality education.

MARY ANN WOLF: Local public schools are on the ballot in nearly every race

Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 -- We have significant work and opportunities ahead to ensure North Carolina public schools make it possible for every child to succeed in life. This election, vote for what is best for our children, our communities, and our state's future.

ELIZABETH PAUL: Local public schools are vital to community resilience

Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 -- Public schools provide a space for bringing people together through sports, arts, and activities to build relationships across generations. In times of need, our public schools are resources and support for all students and families in the community.

KIMBERLY JONES & DEANNA TOWNSEND-SMITH: Public schools are beacons of hope through crisis and devastation

Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 -- As the General Assembly returns to decide disaster relief, it has the ability to uphold its constitutional responsibility by not sending additional monies to support private school vouchers and instead provide the needed funding to support and rebuild our public schools that serve communities without hesitation.

CHANTE RUSSELL: The election and N.C. public schools. Questions for voters to ask

Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 -- While the enthusiasm surrounding presidential and top statewide candidates is evident, we cannot forget the importance of down-ballot elections. Here are some essential questions to ask yourself before selecting North Carolina's lawmakers:

Editorial: N.C. Legislature's pre-election voucher ploy reveals failed support for public schools

Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 -- While the N.C. legislature's private school voucher program ranks at the top for lack of accountability, its support of public schools ranks among the worst in the nation.

Editorial: Private school vouchers aren't blank checks. Accountability is a must.

Monday, July 8, 2024 -- Accountability and achievement are not simply to the parents of students. All taxpayers, who pay the tab, have a right to know their money is in the hands of competent and qualified people to deliver the services intended - educating school children.

MARY ANN WOLF: Recruiting and supporting educators is critical for N.C.'s children

Wednesday, June 19, 2024 -- We must do better at providing teachers the support they need so that they can have long-lasting, fulfilling classroom careers.

Editorial: Truitt decries politicization of N.C. schools even as she dodged a tough stand

Thursday, May 9, 2024 -- As Catherine Truitt bemoaned the politicalization of public education she displayed her own culpability. Freed of the anchor of election-year incumbency, she chose still to take to the political soap box and dodge the tough stands like supporting the Comprehensive Remedial Plan to bring quality education to every North Carolina public school student.

MARY ANN WOLF: N.C. legislators will soon spend $1 billion surplus. Public schools must be a priority

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 -- Public schools matter to each and every community across North Carolina. With meaningful investments, they can continue to thrive and serve our state.

MARY ANN WOLF: Building relationships via 'Bring Your Legislator to School Day'

Monday, April 22, 2024 -- Allowing policymakers to experience the day-to-day reality of the state's elementary and secondary schools helps establish strong relationships between legislators and the communities they serve to foster collaboration, ensure transparency and consider diverse perspectives when crafting policies.

MARY ANN WOLF: Education is on the ballot

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 -- North Carolina is ranked at the bottom -- 49th this year -- for school funding efforts. That won't change unless we elect decision-makers who value and prioritize education as a public good essential to the continued progress of our communities.

MARY ANN WOLF: Better support, resources make teachers even more effective

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 -- Teachers are the No. 1 school-related factor in student outcomes. Each teacher has the potential to impact hundreds of children throughout their career. We place high expectations on those educators but as a state, we have oftentimes failed to give them the resources needed to meet those expectations.

MARY ANN WOLF: A roadmap for targeted investment

Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 -- Equitable funding based on need is a crucial step in improving public schools so they can reach their full potential and prepare students to be successful, productive members of an ever-evolving world. The future of our state, our communities and our children are certainly worth investing in.

DEANNA TOWNSEND-SMITH: Achieving equity in public education together

Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 -- As we work to protect and support each child it is important to elevate their experiences to help inform policy and practice. Representation matters as it instills aspiration. Students want and need to understand the past to continue the progress we have made as a nation.

MARY ANN WOLF: Supporting teachers so they can support students

Monday, Oct. 2, 2023 -- Public education is an investment. Is there a more worthy investment than one in the future of our children and communities? By providing teachers with the compensation, resources and respect they are entitled to, we give them the tools to build up each child.

MARY ANN WOLF: Words of hope from N.C.'s teacher, principal and superintendent of the year

Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 -- What gives hope to our Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year and Superintendent of the Year.

Editorial: Transform NC's private school vouchers from boondoggle to responsible, transparent, accountable

Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 -- Six recommendations will help assure parents, educators and taxpayers that public money granted to private schools is being used as intended and that students are in classrooms where they receive a quality education - as should EVERY North Carolina child.

MARY ANN WOLF: Kids matter! Don't neglect N.C.'s public schools

Monday, Sept. 4, 2023 -- One of the most central purposes of our state government is to support a strong system of public schools to pave the way for a strong democracy, society, and economy. Yet over the past few months, we've heard proposed bills, recommended ideas and rhetoric that forgets and detracts from that purpose.

MARY ANN WOLF: North Carolina has the money. Why shortchange public education?

Thursday, May 18, 2023 -- We have the money and we DO want it invested in our public schools. The 1.5 million public school students in our state deserve it.

MARY ANN WOLF: Taking $1 billion from public schools will hit rural communities hardest

Thursday, March 30, 2023 -- The removal of $1 billion in public school funds to go to private schools will be devastating for our public schools already struggling to make ends meet due to inadequate and inequitable funding from the state. In nearly half the counties in North Carolina, school districts are, and shifting these funds to homeschooling or private schools would have a significant negative impact on the local economy.