The N.C. Supreme Court recently upheld a lower-court ruling that blocked the state from taking tenure away from public school teachers. The ruling means that teachers who had secured tenure before the law was passed in 2013 can keep the additional job protections tied to tenure, officially known as “career status.” Other teachers will not be granted tenure moving forward. Terry Stoops, the John Locke Foundation’s director of research and education studies, assesses the significance of the court’s ruling. Speaking of education, North Carolina has seen significant progress in the area of school choice. With the recent 20th anniversary of the state’s public charter school law, president Darrell Allison of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina reflected on recent developments that have expanded options for families with school-age kids. As policymakers consider a possible statewide plan for dealing with the impact of Alzheimer’s disease, they’re hearing from at least one high-profile Tar Heel with firsthand knowledge of the situation. Dr. Linnea Smith, widow of legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith, recently testified about the impact of the disease on her family. North Carolina’s unemployment rate has held fairly steady in recent months despite significant improvements in the number of jobs available in the state. N.C. State University economics professor Michael Walden explained why during a recent presentation to state lawmakers. Walden also offered short- and long-term projections for the state’s economy. Students continue to disrupt meetings of the University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors, though their goals are not entirely clear. Carolina Journal Associate Editor Kari Travis covered the latest BOG meeting, talking to protesters and to those who say the disruptions are counterproductive.