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November 22, 2025

[1]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org
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Thankful for Our NC Educators!

This year we are increasingly thankful for our wonderful NC educators and
the many support staff who make our public schools places where all
students can come together to learn and grow into thoughtful, engaged
community members.

Thanks to our educators, our public schools are beacons of hope where our
students learn alongside people from all walks of life. They act as sources
of inspiration, support, and guidance for students, especially during
difficult times. Educators nurture students' dreams, empower them with
knowledge and skills, and provide safe and supportive environments that
help them achieve their potential.

Despite North Carolina being one of the [7]least supported education
systems in the nation, ranking 49th worst of 50 states in funding effort
and 48th of 51 (DC included) in funding level, NC educators and students
continue to perform far better than we have a right to expect.
* This year NC students achieved a [8]three-year high in most
standardized tests at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, according to
the end of grade and end of course test data released in September. More
schools earned an A, B or C, while the number of schools earning a D or F
declined substantially. The number of schools exceeding or meeting growth
increased as well.
* NC made state history with record high Advanced Placement course
participation and exam scores, [9]beating the national average for the
second year in a row.
* NC [10]graduation rates were also up, reaching 87.7%, their highest
mark in 10 years.
* National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results released in
2025 showed that [11]NC students are at or above the nation in all tested
areas, though, not surprisingly, pandemic gaps still persist.

Thank you, educators! North Carolinians are getting much more than they're
paying for! These metrics reveal results far beyond what our legislative
leadership should expect given their dismal investments in public schools
over the past decade.

Your grit, persistence, and professionalism in the face of culture war
disruptions and chronic underfunding is remarkable, especially when the
legislature has not passed a state budget. No state budget means that NC
educators are being paid at last year’s salary levels, positions have been
cut or left unfilled, and an already challenging job has became even
harder.

We are also thankful for the Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo
Green’s new strategic plan to become the [12]best school system in the
nation by 2030. This comprehensive plan sets out goals, actions, and clear
metrics for measuring progress. He traveled the state sharing plan details
with communities and he made it clear that to achieve success, lawmakers
must commit to more funding.

THANK YOU to all NC educators and supporters who keep our schools strong.
You truly are the heart of our communities! We encourage all educators to
remember that we cannot let anti-public education voices take away your
vital role or diminish your passion for teaching - you are needed! You are
preparing our children to live their dreams and aspirations!

We hope you have a restful Thanksgiving holiday next week. THANK YOU for
all you do for North Carolina's students and their futures!

ICE in NC Communities

This week saw major increases in the number of ICE agents deployed in
several NC communities, including Charlotte, Durham, and Raleigh. Fearful
that scenes from ICE deployments in other major cities would play out in
North Carolina, communities took to the streets to protest. On Monday, more
than [13]30,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students were absent. When ICE came
to the Triangle on Tuesday, nearly [14]20,000 Wake County students students
stayed home.

These disruptions to student learning as well as the fear and trauma to
students and their communities caused by the raids led many school leaders
to respond. Leading the way was North Carolina Superintendent of Public
Instruction Mo Green. His statement on Tuesday emphasized the state’s
commitment to providing a safe learning environment for ALL students.

"Every child in North Carolina has the constitutional right to a free
public education, regardless of immigration status," Green said. "This is
not a choice, it is our legal responsibility. Our schools are places of
learning, growth and opportunity. When students are absent due to fear,
their education suffers and our entire community is diminished.

"Consistent with binding legal precedent, North Carolina public schools
remain committed to ensuring every student can safely attend school and
receive the education they deserve.

"Our educators and school staff are focused on what they do best – teaching
and nurturing young minds. We will continue to work with local boards of
education and school leaders to maintain safe, welcoming environments where
all students can learn and thrive."

Thank you, Superintendent Green!

Legislative and SBE Updates

The legislature took no action on the budget this week after House and
Senate leaders rejected Governor Stein's call to action on a budget.

Some [15]lawmakers came to Raleigh on Monday to signal their willingness to
work on a budget. The budget stalemate is due to lawmakers' inability to
agree on Medicaid funding, tax cuts, educator and state employee salary
raises, and more. As majority leaders in both House and Senate, the
responsibility for moving negotiations forward rests with the Republicans.

Contact budget conferees (members assigned to work on a budget) to share
your views. [16]We have created several email templates, including a "write
your own" version you can use to email the budget conferees.

Lawmakers are scheduled to convene again on December 15. Check the
[17]legislative calendar for committee meetings happening in the first two
weeks of December.

STOP Dismantling the US Department of Education

On November 18, the Department of Education announced sweeping changes to
the department in a continuing effort to dismantle the agency. Six offices
currently within the ED are being moved to other agencies, reversing the
move made by President Carter in 1979 to bring the Office of Education and
other education-related agencies under one roof to improve efficiency and
efficacy. Distributing the responsibilities back out to multiple agencies
and cutting funding will sharply diminish their ability to function.

Congress authorized formation of the US Department of Education and is
required to authorize any change to its structure. The administration is
sidestepping the law by calling the moves interagency “partnerships” that
leave policy oversight with the Education Department but grant management
and other functions with the newly assigned department.
* Management of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education and the
Office of Postsecondary Education is being moved to the Department of
Labor.
* Educational services for Native Americans are moving to the Department
of Interior
* Child care for college students who are parents and accreditation of
foreign medical schools are being moved to Health and Human Services
* International education is being moved to the Department of State

Congress can halt these moves. [18]Contact your congressional members with
our email template and urge them to reject these harmful changes.

NC Lottery Funds School Construction

More than $392 million in grant awards through the Needs-Based Public
School Capital Fund (NBPSCF) were announced on November 18. The NBPSCF,
funded by state lottery revenue, was established in 2017 to supplement the
other capital, building repair, and renovation funds that distribute
lottery revenue to all districts in the state.

The NBPSCF is aimed at districts in low-wealth areas. This year's grants
will fund new or replacement school buildings and school renovations in 10
districts.

NCDPI received 92 grant applications totaling nearly $2 billion in
requested funding. With just under $400 million funded, over $1.6 billion
in grant requests from low-wealth districts were left unfunded.

In 2023-24, just [19]20.3% of lottery revenue went to public education.

[20]READ MORE

Tennessee's Unconstitutional Voucher Program

Tennessee’s new universal voucher program went into effect in February 2025
when Governor Lee signed it into law after several years of legislative
failures and strenuous public opposition. Now the program is headed to
court. Tennessee's program is remarkably similar to North Carolina’s
program. The following is excerpted from a piece by Public Funds Public
Schools.

Tennessee parents and taxpayers filed a lawsuit on November 20 challenging
Tennessee's universal private school voucher program as unconstitutional.
The lawsuit, Young v. Lee, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, argues
that the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship Act violates the state
constitution by diverting public funds to private schools that lack
accountability and openly discriminate against students.

The unconstitutional program provides $7,295 vouchers to some Tennessee
students to attend private schools and covers a range of other private
education expenses. The program is projected to cost taxpayers $1 billion
over its first five years.

The lawsuit argues the voucher law violates the Education Clause of the
Tennessee Constitution in two ways:
* The Education Clause's adequacy requirement: By diverting public funds
away from already underfunded public schools, the law prevents Tennessee
from providing students with the adequate education guaranteed by the state
constitution.
* The Education Clause's mandate of a single system of public schools: By
funding schools outside the system of free public schools, the voucher law
violates this Education Clause mandate

Private schools participating in the voucher program are not required to
comply with the same academic standards, accountability measures, or civil
rights protections that apply to public schools. They can deny admission to
students with disabilities, LGBTQ students, or students of certain
religions — discrimination that would be illegal in any public school.

[21]READ MORE

In Case You Missed It

[22]Chatham County Educator Surprised with National Milken Educator Award

[23]First ever Eastern North Carolina Civics Bowl in December

[24]NC school leaders vow 'safe' schools for all students amid Triangle
immigration operations

[25]A year of upheaval: how much NC public school funding was affected by
federal cuts and delays

[26]Charter Review Board considers higher hurdles to school openings,
denies all-boys school, and more

[27]Executive functioning is key to future success. Here's how educators
can embed it in the classroom

Did You Know?

Did you know North Carolina is the only state in the nation that has failed
to pass a state budget for fiscal year 2025-26?

On November 12, Pennsylvania's Governor Shapiro signed their state budget,
leaving North Carolina standing alone as the least responsible state
legislature in the nation.

Contact budget negotiation committee members to let them know we need a
budget. It is inexcusable that lawmakers refuse to work on a budget while
North Carolinians suffer.

Use our [28]email template and customize your own message to the budget
committee members.

Mark Your Calendar!

Multiple Dates, 7:00-8:30 pm: Resilience and ACES. Learn about Adverse
Childhood Experiences (ACES) and resilience. Join us for this
award-winning, 60-minute film, Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The
Science of Hope. This documentary examines how abuse, neglect, and other
adverse childhood experiences affect children’s development & health
outcomes in adulthood. This powerful movie is a conversation starter and a
perspective changer.

[29]REGISTER HERE

All screenings are on Thursday and include time for discussion. Invite a
friend and contact us about setting up a private screening for your school
staff, PTA, civic group, church, or synagogue.
* January 22, 2026
* February 26, 2026
* March 26, 2026

Words to Remember

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire"

— William Butler Yeats

Help us support public schools!

Public Schools First NC is a statewide nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit
focused solely

on pre-K to 12 public education issues. We collaborate with parents,
teachers, business and civic leaders, and communities across North Carolina
to advocate for one unified system of public education that prepares each
child for productive citizenship.

[30]DONATE HERE

[31]www.publicschoolsfirstnc.org

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]

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