Opinion
Some homers among the strikes
It's been nearly 40 years since my debut as an NC columnist. Over the decades, I’ve gotten quite a few things wrong, but also had important wins.
Opinion
A la carte education: Could future public schools charge by the class or sport?
Allowing students from other schools to access public school classes and programs fits in well with the overall school choice vision of more options for families and more competition among schools.
Opinion
Students with disabilities forgotten in extreme political battles
According to North Carolina Department of Public Instruction 2022-2023 assessment data, there is not a single assessed subject in which even 40% of North Carolina’s students with disabilities scored “Grade Level Proficient” or above. Stated another way, in 2022-2023, 84.3% of North Carolina’s students with disabilities could not read proficiently in grades 3 through 8,...
Opinion
How will Opportunity Scholarship boom affect NC charter schools?
According to the National School Choice Awareness Foundation (NSCAF), more Americans googled “school choice” during National School Choice Week in January 2023 than during any other time over the prior six years. This should come as no surprise to North Carolinians. Since January 2023, our state legislature has made major expansion possible in both charter...
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...
January 2024 – Support for School Choice a ‘Call to Action’ in North Carolina
Raleigh – North Carolinians overwhelmingly support school choice, according to the latest Carolina Journal Poll. The survey of 600 likely North Carolina voters found majority support for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), charter schools, private-school vouchers, and ‘backpack funding.’ A plurality of voters (48%) said they were unhappy with the quality of education students receive at...
Opinion
Moving from the ‘Egypt’ of one-size-fits-all ed to the ‘Promised Land’ of school choice
This year, DreamWorks’ “The Prince of Egypt” turns 25. Despite being made in a previous generation, my children love watching it. And by this point, I am fairly certain each of my children knows most, if not all, the lyrics to each song. It’s a work of cinematic art that has likely secured its place...
Opinion
North Carolina already has school choice
North Carolina already has robust educational choices, and families are enthusiastically enjoying those opportunities. According to a 2022 report from BESTNC.com, approximately 16% of North Carolina families attend private school or home school. Families already have school choice, and this freedom allows for extraordinary educational innovation and entrepreneurship at a net gain to taxpayers. But...
Opinion
NC isn’t done yet when it comes to school choice
This week, I was talking with a radio host based in Charlotte, and she asked me how North Carolina stacks up when it comes to school choice. My answer: the state has a lot of school choice strengths, but some unusual weaknesses. First, the good news. There are hundreds of public charter and public magnet...
News
School choice in N.C. set to continue significant growth in 2023
The rapid growth of school choice options brought on by the pandemic shows no signs of letting up as the calendar turns over to 2023. Recent statistics show that for the 2021-2022 school year, there were 115,311 students enrolled in K-12 private schools, 160,528 in homeschools, and another 132,909 enrolled in public charter schools. Part...
News
Anti-school choice group gives NC ‘F’ for expanding educational freedom
The Network for Public Education, an anti-school-choice group, gives North Carolina an “F” grade and ranked the state 46th out of 50 because of its expansive educational opportunity programs.
News
Civitas poll: 61% of likely voters back N.C.’s Opportunity Scholarship Program
Support for the Opportunity Scholarship Program stands at 61%, according to a new Civitas Poll of likely voters presented by the John Locke Foundation. The results dropped during National School Choice Week 2022, an annual nationwide celebration of educational options for all students. The results were released during a virtual poll luncheon Jan. 27. The...
