North Carolina may replace its school proficiency measure with a weighted index. The change could artificially lift public school grades, raising questions for parents and homebuyers.
Education
Raleigh Just Changed the LifeWise Debate in New Hanover County Schools
North Carolina’s new budget law shifts the LifeWise debate from local control to state mandate, requiring schools to excuse students for religious instruction. What does this mean for NHCS?
AI Is Coming to the Classroom. The Evidence Isn’t Keeping Up.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of classroom instruction, even though researchers have yet to show it produces lasting gains in student learning. Should schools invest more taxpayer funds when there’s little proof AI improves student learning?
LifeWise in New Hanover Public Schools: Some Look to Limit Parental Choice
LifeWise Academy’s proposed role in New Hanover County Schools raises a practical question: should families who decline a voluntary Bible-based class also be able to block others from choosing it?
New Hanover’s Republican-led School Board Approves Mandatory Technology Tax on Kids for 2026-27 School Year
NHCS approved a mandatory $25 technology fee for students beginning in 2026-27, raising questions about public education, school funding, and device-based learning.
New Hanover County’s $320.5 Million School Bond Tests Voter Trust and Property Tax Fatigue
A $320.5 million school bond heads toward New Hanover voters with real building needs, rising tax concerns and questions about what the plan leaves out.
May Day Teacher Walkout Raises Legal and Academic Questions Across North Carolina
North Carolina’s May Day teacher walkout closed schools, disrupted families and raised legal questions about public employee strikes, student proficiency and accountability.
Republican Members of the New Hanover School Board Look Unserious About Solving Teacher Pay Deficiencies
As North Carolina teachers rally over pay, New Hanover County’s school board fight shows how a teacher-retention committee became a political battleground.
New Hanover School Board Rejected NCAE Political Action, Big Questions Remain
The New Hanover County school board rejected a proposal to move a teacher workday to May 1, refusing to make it easier for staff to attend an NCAE-backed rally in Raleigh. The vote opens a larger fight over public employee strikes and political activity during work hours.
North Carolina’s Cell Phone Crackdown in Schools Nears a Moment of Truth
North Carolina schools are nearing the end of a rollout year for cell phone free classrooms. Districts will soon be reviewing whether new rules, including Yondr pouches, improved student behavior, focus, and academic performance.