The state Board of Education is a powerful group of officials that have an impact on every parent, school-age child, and taxpayer. And recently, the board’s chairman, Bill Harrison, has engaged in a public war of words with legislative leaders. John Locke Foundation Director of Education Studies, Terry Stoops, explains the disagreement and the powers of the board. Then we turn to more about empowering parents. Advocates continue to push state lawmakers to move forward with “opportunity scholarships,” a proposal that would give tax credits to corporations that fund programs to help more families afford private education. More than 1,000 parents, students, and private educators rallied for the idea recently outside the state Legislative Building. You’ll hear comments from rally participants. Next is a legislative debate over a North Carolina based controversy that’s made national news recently. The national controversy over what’s come to be known as the Hoke County “chicken nugget” case prompted some state lawmakers to act this year. Senators approved a bill to ensure that teachers and bureaucrats at state-funded preschool programs will not interfere with lunches parents pack for the children. You’ll hear Sens. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, and Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange, debate the bill. That’s followed by a look at politics. All signs point to another series of hotly contested election contests this fall. John Rustin, executive director of the N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation, explains why his organization labels North Carolina a “quintessential battleground state.” And finally, global warming alarmists continue to try to expand government power over average citizens in order to mitigate what they believe is massive climate change that will wreak havoc on North Carolina. John Locke Foundation Vice President for Research, Roy Cordato, explains why there are now legislative efforts to limit alarmist impact on local governments on North Carolina’s coast against claims of massive sea level rise by 2100.
The Power of the State Board of Education
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