K-12 Education | 2012 Archive

RALEIGH — The commission may adopt rules that would modify early childhood nutritional programs. The speakers were commenting on the proposed rule changes and on enforcement of existing rules across the state. New rules could be adopted in early May.

DURHAM — Notwithstanding widespread support the Research Triangle High School has received from academics, entrepreneurs, and educators, the school’s supporters note that the Durham County school board has suggested that charter operators’ goal is to establish a “separate” system of public schools, segregated by race.

Perdue is simply mistaken on economic policy and sometimes fails to communicate effectively. Neither failing reflects on her intelligence.

There were two attempts over the past year to make a certain statistic, one percent, into a political cause here in North Carolina. Both flopped in telling ways.

RALEIGH — The mother of the 4-year-old who first objected to the inspection of her child's lunch by West Hoke Elementary School says the school continues to give her daughter milk every day, against her wishes.

There were actually two attempts over the past year to make a certain statistic, one percent, into a political cause here in North Carolina.

RALEIGH — What used to be five programs — and a hassle for high school guidance counselors — will be rolled into one, with the process already under way. A sixth program, the Intellectually or Academically Gifted program, is getting the ax.

It’s good to invest for education and training. But it’s not good to waste scarce resources on investment vehicles with a poor rate of return.

RALEIGH — Of the several government agencies who have been named in the controversy, none will admit that it was responsible for employing or contracting with the person who was inspecting preschoolers’ lunches at West Hoke Elementary School in late January.

It was an interesting story about an important issue of government usurping parental prerogatives.

WASHINGTON — The national uproar over a Hoke County 4-year-old’s recent encounter with government-paid preschool lunch monitors has prompted two members of the N.C. congressional delegation to fire off a letter expressing “strong concern” to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

RAEFORD — All lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs must meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines. When home-packed lunches do not include all of the required items, child care providers must supplement the missing ones.

RALEIGH — Most observers agree that a quality classroom teacher is critical to a child’s ability to learn and achieve in school. There’s not as much agreement about whether North Carolina’s teaching colleges are turning out graduates who meet that benchmark. Dr. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation director of education studies, discussed the issue with Donna Martinez for Carolina Journal Radio.

RALEIGH — In recent months, the question of fraud in the federal government’s second largest nutrition entitlement has reached critical mass in Illinois and Georgia, where school officials are trying to weed out cheaters.

ASHEVILLE — Several types of supplemental pay can be given to school administrators by their districts. But the reporting varies from year to year and from district to district. Accurate comparisons are difficult to make.

If North Carolina were a country, our level of taxpayer funding for education would be near the top – but the performance of our public schools would be mediocre.

Stricter laws and government regulations fail to reduce the caloric intake of students. It's more important for parents to live healthy lifestyles and pass those habits along to their children.

RALEIGH — International comparisons show North Carolina public school students struggle to match the performance of economic competitors around the globe, despite spending levels that rank among the highest in the world. The John Locke Foundation's top education expert reaches that conclusion in a new Spotlight report.

While many North Carolina politicians proclaim their desire for a “world-class” education system, they mostly compare North Carolina to other states.