- House = 1178
- Senate = 917
K-12 Public Education Bills with Action (June 30 - July 8)
Published 12:05 am Sunday, June 26, 2022
GRANITE QUARRY — Several Republicans from around the state came to Rowan County to talk about the future of education in North Carolina on Saturday.
Dubbed “Focus on Education,” the panel featured N.C. Rep. John Torbett (R-108), N.C. GOP Vice Chair Susan Mills and former chair of the N.C. Board of Education Phil Kirk.
Torbett said mental health problems point to the need for tightened school security, noting a school he visited had doors propped open with bricks. He also pointed to implementing threat-assessment teams.
Other issues raised:
- Kirk credited state superintendent Catherine Truitt for her focus on implementing the science of reading across the state, pointing to a case study of Mississippi making a massive jump in its student literacy rate after implementing the program.
- On learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mills said she can see low reading proficiency in her students entering high school, said issues remain with low attendance, students who do not have parents involved and those who have trouble getting to school every day.
She said schools are spending too much time on surveys and “other things” instead of teaching.
“Take that 30 minutes and work on reading,” Mills said. “Do things that the students need, because if we don’t, nobody else is going to.”
She also touched on the value of after-school remediation programs.
- On teacher turnover, Torbett said the issue is compensation and the state needs to pay teachers as professionals, as well as change the idea teachers have to go into administration to make more money.
- On teacher unions, Kirk said the N.C. Association of Educators does not represent all teachers. Torbett said there were socialist elements in the Red4EdNC rallies in Raleigh, as well as anti-police sentiment. He claimed socialism is not “loosely thrown out.”
Read the entire article HERE.
 Beginning in July K-12 educators can receive FREE online professional development to assist with best practices and resources for implementing bended instruction in a class or school with "Getting Started with the NC Blended Instructional Model". The self-paced, 20-hour program is available through NCEES and begins July 15. Participants will earn 2 CEUs at the end of the course.
To register select one of the links below (when you click on the link you will be directed to the RapidIdentity login screen):
 Elementary Registration - https://idp.ncedcloud.org/idp/AuthnEngine#/authn
Middle and High School Registration - https://idp.ncedcloud.org/idp/AuthnEngine#/authn
Helpful Resources
NC Social and Emotional Learning | NC DPI
Center for Safer Schools | NC DPI - Say Something Anonymous Reporting System | NC DPI
DPI Financial Business Services (FBS) - Check FBS homepage regularly for updates.
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COVID Funds - Expenditure and Allotments Data - Updated May 31, 2022
COVID-19 Orders & Directives - Executive orders issued by Governor Roy Cooper, as part of North Carolina's response to the COVID-19 coronavirus - K-12 Education COVID-19 Guidance
- As of June 23, 2022, NCDHHS has sunset the StrongSchools NC Public Health Toolkit. Going forward, school administrators, staff, and families should now refer to the CDC’s Operational Guidance for K12 Schools for information on how to lower risk of COVID-19 in school settings.
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Press Releases
Public School Forum of North Carolina: 2020 North Carolina Education Primer
EdNC - Independent source of news, data, and analysis about education for the people of North Carolina.
BEST NC - Facts and Figures – BEST NC
OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONTACT INFORMATION:
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