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APRIL 13, 2023
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Greetings,
Welcome to the first edition of my parent newsletter! Thank you for taking an interest in public education in North Carolina.
I am so proud to serve the state of North Carolina as a leader in public education and can't wait to share with you the K-12 happenings in our state.
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As a parent of three incredible children, a military spouse, a lifelong educator, and, now, state superintendent, I understand the value and importance of parent involvement in a child's academic journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to connect with the parents of our state to discuss one of the most prominent parts of our children's lives: their education.
Thanks for being here, and I look forward to staying in touch!
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 Catherine Truitt
Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Department of Public Instruction?
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) employs over 1,300 people who provide leadership and service to the 115 local public school districts and 2,500+ district public schools, 200+ charter schools, and the three residential schools for students with hearing and visual impairments. The areas of support include instruction, accountability, finance, teacher and administrator preparation and licensing, professional development and school business support and operations.
What is the State Superintendent?
The State Superintendent is the elected head of NCDPI and oversees the K-12 public school systems of the state. The Superintendent is a member of the N.C. Council of State and a member of the N.C. State Board of Education (SBE). The Superintendent votes on the Council of State but not on the N.C. State Board of Education.
What is the State Board of Education?
The North Carolina State Board of Education sets policy and general procedures for public school systems across the state, including teacher pay and qualifications, course content, testing requirements, and manages state education funds. The SBE derives its authority from the North Carolina State Constitution.
Who decides how much money schools get?
North Carolina's schools are funded by three sources: state, federal and county. The state is primary funder of schools in North Carolina. The overall state budget and education allocation is decided by the North Carolina General Assembly. To put some of these numbers into context: public education is 40.8% of the NC General Fund and $11.2 billion in state funding. Also, 62% of K-12 funding come from the state; 28% comes locally; and 10% comes from the federal government.
Who decides what is taught in NC Public Schools?
Content standards that are adopted by NCDPI outline the sequence, topics, and learning goals for each grade and subject. Curricula and instructional decisions are made on the district, school, and departmental levels. DPI develops the Standard Course of Study, which describes the subjects and course content that is taught in North Carolina public schools.
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Below I've rounded up the top three issues that I think would be of importance and interest to parents.
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Get to Know Me!
In March I had the opportunity to join Tim Boyum for his Tying it Together podcast where we talked all things North Carolina education - from teacher pay to parent involvement to reform in public education. I hope you will give it a listen and learn more about my vision for education in our state.
Listen to the episode here.
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Operation Polaris 2.0
Operation Polaris has been the vision for North Carolina public schools since I stepped into this role in January 2021. Formally unveiled before the State Board of Education that April, it was presented as the agency’s four year strategic plan for helping North Carolina public schools overcome the challenges of the pandemic while also charting a course to improve and modernize the state’s K-12 education system into the future. It was, and remains, important that Operation Polaris serve as a long-term, proactive and forward-thinking vision for education in the state and that it be one that evolves to fit the challenges and changes facing North Carolina Public Schools.
Operation Polaris 2.0 is both a progress report and a renewed outline of next steps and measurable goals to reach my North Star: that every student deserves a highly qualified, excellent teacher in every classroom. Many initiatives outlined in the first iteration of Operation Polaris are well underway and others, such as strengthening literacy and workforce development, have been enhanced as our work to date has led us to new solutions.
Learn more about Operation Polaris here.
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Education Legislation
While not a comprehensive roundup, I wanted to highlight a few of the top bills that our agency has championed and is following closely as they work their way through the legislative process.
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SB 193: Career Development Plans: This legislation would provide career development planning for all middle and high school students. It’s a critical way we can assist students in feeling informed when making plans for after high school.
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HB 8: Computer Science Graduation Requirement: This legislation would allow for all North Carolina students to gain much-needed experience in the computer science discipline before graduation from high school. Importantly, Computer Science is not just one course offered to students —it’s a content area that will position students for success no matter the path they choose.
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HB 336 and SB 263: A Nurse in Every School: This legislation would require at least one nurse in every school within a public school unit beginning in the 2023-24 school year. This is an important way we can support the health, well-being, and educational success of North Carolina’s public school students.
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HB 142: Protect Our Students Act: This legislation seeks to ensure that schools and employees are clear on reporting school-related sexual misconduct. Everyone has a duty to act, and by defining who is legally responsible, while also defining what misconduct entails, we can strengthen our reporting structure and better serve students
To keep up with education legislation, tune in to State Board of Education meetings or read meeting minutes here. You can also stay up to date by signing up for NCDPI's K-12 Education Legislative Update newsletter here.
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