Hannah McClellan

EducationNC • 4th December 2024

The 2025-26 FAFSA is open. Here's what you need to know

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) officially released the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Nov. 21, 10 days before its Dec. 1 goal and three days after opening the form to all students and families as part of the...

EducationNC • 27th November 2024

Our Thanksgiving blessing

A blessing for the more than 1 million people who have read EdNC this year — who have trusted our news coverage, storytelling, and analysis. Our work would be nothing without the people who read it, engage with it, and then use it to impact the child...

EducationNC • 21st November 2024

Following veto override, community colleges see 'crucial' enrollment growth funds

The General Assembly successfully overrode the governor’s veto of the mini budget earlier this week, meaning that $64 million for enrollment growth and $12.7 million in receipts is on the way to community colleges across the state. N.C. Community...

EducationNC • 20th November 2024

General Assembly overrides veto of the mini budget, adds additional funds for vouchers

The Republican-led General Assembly successfully overrode the governor’s veto of its mini budget on Wednesday, pushing forward $95 million in enrollment growth funds for public schools and an additional $463.5 million toward private school vouchers...

EducationNC • 20th November 2024

House passes new bill with regulatory changes, child care grants, and Helene aid

The North Carolina House passed a wide-ranging omnibus bill on Tuesday night that transfers an additional $227 million to the state’s Hurricane Helene Fund, allocates $33.75 million in child care stabilization grants, and includes various regulatory...

EducationNC • 18th November 2024

State Board of Community Colleges discusses need for enrollment growth funds ahead of legislature reconvening

The State Board of Community Colleges voted on Friday, Nov. 15, to provide contingent approval of an allocation of $76 million in enrollment growth funds to colleges that experienced an enrollment increase during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24. That...

EducationNC • 14th November 2024

2025-26 FAFSA will be available for all students and families before end of November as part of final beta testing

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced on Thursday, Nov. 14 the launch of the final stage of testing (Beta 4) for the 2025–26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — which is on track to officially launch for all students and...

EducationNC • 8th November 2024

After ESSER funds, State Board discusses how to serve low-performing schools, districts

There were 735 low-performing schools and 23 low-performing school districts during the 2023-24 school year, according to an annual report presented to the State Board of Education on Wednesday. There are 69 fewer low-performing schools than last...

EducationNC • 7th November 2024

Calendar lawsuits, early colleges, and more: North Carolina school districts in the news

With another school year underway, public school districts around North Carolina have recently made headlines. From early college proposals to calendar lawsuits, here’s a brief overview of what you need to know about the happenings across the...

EducationNC • 6th November 2024

2024 general election results, with EdNC's first look at the impact on public education

Editor’s Note: This article will be updated at 5 p.m. daily until all races are called and the results are official. More than 5.6 million North Carolinians voted in the 2024 general election, according to unofficial data from the N.C. State Board...

EducationNC • 6th November 2024

Superintendent-elect Mo Green shares plans for North Carolina public schools following his win

Superintendent-elect Maurice “Mo” Green gave his first press conference on Wednesday following his victory, sharing plans for how he will support the state’s more than 2,500 public schools and lead the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) when he...

EducationNC • 6th November 2024

New K-3 literacy data shows growth in skills for North Carolina students

More K-3 students are on track when it comes to gaining literacy skills, according to new data from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) — a trend that has continued since science of reading implementation officially began during the 2021-22...

EducationNC • 5th November 2024

It's Election Day: A final look at polling and early voting in NC

Welcome to Awake58 — a weekly newsletter where you’ll find the latest updates on community college related news and events around the state. Plus, a look at what’s trending nationally in higher education. If you’re new to Awake58, welcome! If you were...

EducationNC • 1st November 2024

A final look at polling and early voting in NC before Election Day

Update, Nov. 4 at 8 a.m. — This story was updated to include total early voting numbers. Ahead of Election Day, more than 4.4 million people cast their ballots in North Carolina during early voting, according to data from the North Carolina State...

EducationNC • 30th October 2024

As NC looks to further expand vouchers, new report explores programs in other states

While many states — including North Carolina — have recently enacted legislation to vastly expand their private school voucher programs, implementation and design varies greatly from state to state, according to a new Future Ed report. These...

EducationNC • 29th October 2024

Three N.C. community college leaders named to Aspen Institute's Presidents Fellowship

Three North Carolina community college presidents were recently selected for the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s second cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship: Isothermal Community College’s Dr. Margaret Annunziata, Piedmont Community...

EducationNC • 24th October 2024

General Assembly passes second Helene relief bill

Update, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. — Gov. Roy Cooper signed the second relief bill into law on Friday, Oct. 25. “Western North Carolina needs significant investments to recover fully from the worst storm our state has ever seen,” Cooper said in a...

EducationNC • 23rd October 2024

What's in Gov. Cooper's $3.9 billion Helene relief proposal?

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper released his $3.9 billion Helene relief proposal on Wednesday afternoon. The plan calls for $282 million to go toward education recovery, including $100 million for capital needs for K-12 schools and community colleges,...

EducationNC • 22nd October 2024

State Board of Community Colleges discusses Helene relief, recovery

As the 14 North Carolina community colleges impacted by Hurricane Helene continue recovery efforts, the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) is asking state lawmakers for student support funds and stabilization dollars due to enrollment loss,...

EducationNC • 17th October 2024

As lawmakers discuss Helene relief, here's what the state funded after the last major hurricane

On Sept. 27, Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina as a Tropical Storm — leaving many areas in western North Carolina with historic levels of flooding and infrastructure damage. On Oct. 9, the General Assembly unanimously passed its first Helene...