Hannah McClellan

EducationNC • 3rd October 2024

DPI presents Hurricane Helene relief request, includes pay for impacted school employees

As rescue and recovery efforts continue in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, the N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is coordinating a statewide response to support impacted schools — including 28 school districts, 459 local...

EducationNC • 25th September 2024

Two rural NC school districts discuss how they responded to the pandemic

A national webinar hosted on Wednesday highlighted how two North Carolina rural school districts — Polk and Bertie — used federal COVID-relief funds to respond to student and community needs during the pandemic. The webinar, hosted by the Rural...

EducationNC • 23rd September 2024

Five public schools in North Carolina earn national Blue Ribbon Recognition

Five public schools and one private school in North Carolina were recently named National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, in recognition of their overall academic performance or progress in closing...

EducationNC • 23rd September 2024

State Board of Community Colleges advocates for funding and prepares to implement Propel NC

As the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) awaits funding from lawmakers to enact the system’s new funding model, Propel NC, system leadership is working to make sure that policies, codes, and guidance to support local colleges is available if...

EducationNC • 11th September 2024

General Assembly passes mini budget with funds for vouchers, K-12 and community college enrollment

The Republican-led House passed a mini budget on Wednesday afternoon, allocating new money to clear the waitlist for the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program and fund enrollment growth for the K-12 and community college systems. The mini budget...

EducationNC • 9th September 2024

Analysis shows potential impact of voucher expansion as lawmakers are set to further expand funding

The General Assembly will reconvene on Monday, and Republican legislative leaders said on Friday they will vote on several spending initiatives, including clearing the waitlist for the Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program and funding enrollment...

EducationNC • 9th September 2024

North Carolina student test scores continue to increase after pandemic low, new data show

Data released by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) last week show that North Carolina public school students continue to improve on tests in most grades and subjects from record lows at the start of the pandemic. The 2023-24 state test...

EducationNC • 4th September 2024

North Carolina releases school performance grades for 2023-24

North Carolina public schools showed progress on school accountability measures during the 2023-24 school year, according to new data released by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) on Wednesday. In North Carolina, school grades are based...

EducationNC • 26th August 2024

Amid COVID uptick as school is starting, here's the latest guidance from the CDC

In North Carolina, COVID-19 cases are trending upward. At the same time, schools across the state have started — or are preparing to start — their new school years. In March, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) released updated...

EducationNC • 21st August 2024

New report explores role of race and socioeconomics in achievement gaps

A new report from the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released this week studied the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on disparities in reading, mathematics, and science achievement among racial and ethnic groups of elementary students in the...

EducationNC • 19th August 2024

State Board discusses lack of new budget, $69 million enrollment increase needed by community colleges

During this year’s short session, the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) asked lawmakers for two requests: $100 million toward the new Propel NC funding model and $69 million for an enrollment growth adjustment to be distributed across the state’s...

EducationNC • 15th August 2024

After disaffiliation, rural United Methodist pastors aim to 'make a way in the wilderness'

United Methodist clergy from across North Carolina met last week for the Duke Endowment’s 25th Convocation on the Rural Church, “Making Our Way in the Wilderness: Reconnecting with God and One Another to Do a New Thing.” The convocation’s...

EducationNC • 12th August 2024

After legislative changes, here's a look at North Carolina's charter school application process

Last year’s legislative session included multiple new laws that changed the process for how charter schools are approved, renewed, and denied in North Carolina. These new laws are part of a recent focus by North Carolina Republican lawmakers to...

EducationNC • 7th August 2024

What is North Carolina's paid parental leave policy for teachers?

Last summer, the State Board of Education approved temporary administrative rules regarding the paid parental leave mandated by Senate Bill 20, which required a paid parental leave policy for employees of all state agencies, public schools, UNC, and...

EducationNC • 6th August 2024

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools asks General Assembly for at least 5% teacher raises

The second largest school system in North Carolina has formally asked members of the General Assembly to provide additional raises for school employees in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 — following the legislature’s failure to pass an updated budget during...

EducationNC • 5th August 2024

Amid voucher expansion, new data on private schools allows first look at impact on marketshare

The total number of private schools in North Carolina remained relatively stable during the 2023-24 school year, according to the annual report released by the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE) in July 2024. The report estimates that there were...

EducationNC • 5th August 2024

State Board discusses student mental health, substance abuse in North Carolina schools

This article discusses mental health. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. North Carolina high school students presented drafted legislation to the State Board of Education...

EducationNC • 1st August 2024

Carbon monoxide and radon gas testing in N.C. schools has $85 million price tag, report shows

North Carolina lawmakers directed the State Board of Education in 2023 to survey public schools across the state to determine the status and cost of adding carbon monoxide alarms to and conducting radon gas testing in existing school buildings. On...

News & Reporting • 31st July 2024

Choctaw Bibles Connect Christians with Lost Heritage

Kenny Wallace doesn’t have a lot of people to talk to in Choctaw. But he does have a Bible app with a new translation of Scripture in the Indigenous language that his ancestors spoke. And it has an audio sync feature that allows him to listen to the...

EducationNC • 15th July 2024

State Board of Education discusses educator prep and licensure, principal portfolios

The State Board of Education’s virtual meeting on Thursday included multiple discussions related to educator preparation and licensure — including the approval of a portfolio assessment for principals. The 2023 budget directed the Department of...