News

State Health Plan board agrees to consider possibly raising premiums later this year

At a meeting on Friday, the North Carolina State Health Plan Board of Trustees discussed ways to alleviate the plan’s projected deficit of $507 million in 2026 and between $800 and $900 million in 2027 with the possibility of raising monthly premiums by an average of $30 per month for state employees. But not everybody was on board with the idea.

Theresa Opeka
News

Bill would repeal payroll dues deduction for state employee associations

A bill filed this week would end allowing state employees to automatically pay association dues straight from their paychecks. This would apply to members of employee associations like the state's two largest, the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) and the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC).

CJ Staff
News

Teacher’s union tries to prevent Morrow from using apple image in campaign

The North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) has sent a letter to the campaign of Michele Morrow, Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, demanding they cease use of an image of an apple in campaign materials, citing trademark infringement. “Please be advised that this use of the apple and phrases referencing education in your...

David N. Bass
News

Private schools drop appeal in Opportunity Scholarships case

Sixteen private schools in Cumberland and Durham counties have withdrawn their appeal of trial court rulings in a now-dismissed lawsuit that targeted North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. Among the challenged rulings was one that blocked the schools from seeking more than $25,000 in sanctions against scholarship critics. A court document filed Monday mentions a settlement agreement.

CJ Staff
News

Private schools appeal trial court rulings in dismissed Opportunity Scholarship lawsuit

Sixteen private schools in Cumberland and Durham counties are appealing a series of trial court rulings in a lawsuit dismissed earlier this year challenging North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. One ruling involves the schools’ attempt to collect more than $25,000 in sanctions against scholarship critics.

CJ Staff

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Head of NC teachers group drops lawsuit challenging Opportunity Scholarships

The leader of North Carolina’s branch of a national teachers union is dropping her lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship Program. The news arrives as state legislators debate expanding funding for scholarships in the next state budget.

CJ Staff
News

Following Michigan’s union push, North Carolina takes different approach

On Wednesday, Republican legislative leaders filed a bill that would ensure North Carolinians are not coerced into joining labor unions. A “right-to-work” state law is already in place, but this bill would allow voters to decide whether to adopt it into the North Carolina Constitution. North Carolina has been a “right-to-work” state, meaning workers cannot...

Alex Baltzegar
News

Democrats file “Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights”

On Tuesday, a bill filed by NC House Democrats, “The Parents’ and Students’ Bill of Rights” was referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations of the House. The Democrats’ bill was filed after Republicans filed the Parents’ Bill of Rights, scheduled to be considered on the N.C. Senate floor Tuesday afternoon.

Alex Baltzegar
News

Senate Republicans introduce Parents’ Bill of Rights

On Wednesday, N.C. Senate Republicans held a press conference introducing the Parents’ Bill of Rights. which they say would give parents more control over the direction of their child’s education and require more transparency in public schools. During the N.C. Senate’s education committee, where the bill was later debated, several Democrats objected, calling the bill...

Alex Baltzegar
News

N.C. education leaders defend plan to revamp teacher licensure

Top education leaders in North Carolina defended a new framework for teacher licensure during a meeting of the State Board of Education on Aug. 4. State education board Chairman Eric Davis and Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt say that rising teacher shortages and falling enrollments in teaching colleges show that reforms are needed to...

David N. Bass
News

Twitter blocks Locke’s exposure of teachers’ union agenda

The head of the John Locke Foundation’s Center for Effective Education found himself in “Twitter jail” Wednesday. Terry Stoops faced that penalty after exposing discussion topics at a national teachers’ union’s annual meeting. Thousands of teachers and activists are wrapping up a week of meetings in Chicago for the National Education Association annual meeting. While...

Donna King