News
Progressive or regressive? Democrats debate Education Savings Accounts
North Carolina policymakers debate education savings accounts.
News
Record-breaking 72,000 applicants seek Opportunity Scholarships
Nearly 72,000 applications were received for the expanded Opportunity Scholarship program in North Carolina by the close of the priority application window March 1, according to new data from the state government agency that oversees the program. That record-breaking number more than doubles the current number of recipients. Demand was so high in the first...
News
Bueller? Bueller? Chronic absenteeism in NC schools at 27%
Indicative of a national trend, chronic absenteeism has only declined slightly from when it was at its peak.
News
Truitt introduces plan to overhaul school grading system
NCDPI Superintendent Truitt delivered a plan for overhauling the state's school accountability system to lawmakers Monday.
News
Public school leaders embrace competition in age of school choice
Some school leaders are embracing the competition inherent in school choice and working to make their local public schools the best choice possible for the general community.
News
Crime, suspensions continue to worsen in NC public schools
Despite emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina public schools continue to experience increased incidences of crime, violence, and suspensions, according to data from the NC Department of Public Instruction. A DPI report released at the end of January showed that public schools reported 13,193 acts of crime and violence in the 2022-2023 school year,...
News
Cooper Math: Governor’s anti-scholarship tour fact-checked by education expert
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper hit the road in February on a campaign in eastern North Carolina to blast Opportunity Scholarships, the state’s voucher program that provides a pathway to a private school education for tens of thousands of families across the state. The governor’s office claims that vouchers will have a draconian impact on local...
Opinion
School finance in NC: It’s time to take the next step
In 2022, North Carolina spent $16.7 billion in state, federal, and local funds on its public schools. Those funds were distributed to local schools using 50 different funding formulas. People frequently focus on how much money was distributed, which is important. Equally important, however, is to evaluate how that money is distributed. In recent years,...
Opinion
When investing in yourself, diversify
Diversify your portfolio. That’s excellent investment advice — but it applies to many more situations than you might think. After all, setting aside part of each paycheck in retirement funds or other financial assets isn’t the only way you invest now in anticipation of future returns. Indeed, unless you are fabulously wealthy or remarkably lucky,...
Opinion
Facts over messaging: Listen to voters, they have a lot to say
For more than 20 years, thought leaders, policymakers, and readers have turned to Carolina Journal for the latest news and analysis. We thank you for that trust, and thrive on the daily engagement we have with our readers. Starting in 2024, we are stepping it up with the new Carolina Journal poll. Building on decades...
News
Demand for Opportunity Scholarships sets record in first week
More than 32,000 new applications for the Opportunity Scholarship Program came in during the first week of priority enrollment, setting a new record in demand for the program and tripling the number of applications submitted in February 2023. The numbers were first reported by the school-choice advocacy organization Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina...
News
NC Opportunity Scholarship site crashes minutes after applications open
Around 12:15am Thursday morning the website where parents can apply for the Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) crashed as people rushed to apply. OSP became universally open to all North Carolina families after the state legislature passed a bill making all income levels eligible on a sliding scale, with families at the lower income levels being...
