Education Matters

The Public School Forum of NC unveiled its Top 10 Education Issues for 2018 this week. A panel of legislative, education and business leaders discuss before a live audience in Raleigh at the 2018 Eggs & Issues Breakfast. Guests: • Sen. Valerie Foushee (D-Chatham, Orange) • Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union) • Lisa Godwin, 2017 NC Teacher of the Year • Sepi Saidi, President & CEO, SEPI Engineering

Last week, hundreds of parents, teachers and students descended on Raleigh calling on the General Assembly to address the K-3 class size mandate they say is creating chaos in schools across the state. Now that legislators have adjourned again without taking action, what will happen next? Guests: • Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Franklin, Wake) • Sen. Rick Horner (R-Johnston, Nash, Wilson) • Dr. Aaron Fleming, Superintendent, Harnett County Schools

At a time of intense focus by state leaders on how schools are funded in North Carolina, a new study out this week show a stark and growing gap between the highest and lowest-wealth counties in the state, particularly urban and rural school districts. We discuss with one of study’s authors and two key experts. Guests: • Lindsay Wagner, Senior Researcher/Writer, Public School Forum of NC • Dr. Eric Houck, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, UNC-Chapel Hill • Kris Nordstrom, Education Finance and Policy Consultant

The General Assembly will re-convene next week for a special continuation of the 2017 regular session. Will the class size mandate or principal pay be addressed? What else should be on the legislative agenda for education? We’ll discuss with our panel. Guests: • Dr. Tim Markley, Superintendent, New Hanover County Schools • Julie von Haefen, President, Wake County PTA Council • Tracy Zimmerman, Executive Director, NC Early Childhood Foundation • Bruce Mildwurf, Associate Director, Governmental Relations, NC School Boards Association

A one-on-one conversation with the original “Education Governor”, four-term North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. We discuss how he made education a priority for the state and what he sees as the challenges and opportunities to bring people together on behalf of NC’s children. Guest: Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., Former NC Governor

The original NC Teaching Fellows Program was eliminated by the General Assembly in 2011. This year legislators created a new version of the forgivable loan program targeting STEM and special education teachers. We talk with Deans from two of the Schools of Education recently selected for the inaugural class of new Teaching Fellows. We also chat with two leading education reporters about what’s been making headlines in education across the state. Guests: • Dr. Mary Ann Danowitz, Dean, NC State College of Education • Dr. Ann Bullock, Dean, Elon University School of Education • Kelly Hinchcliffe, Education Reporter, WRAL News • Lisa Philip, Education Reporter, WUNC Radio

Studies show that children who regularly experience trauma score lower than their peers on standardized tests are more likely to fail a grade, are placed in special education more frequently and are more likely to be suspended and expelled. Research has helped to answer the question why — and the results may surprise you. The good news is we’re also beginning to understand how to address it and help these children succeed in and out of school. Guests: • Dr. Katie Rosanbalm, Research Scholar, Duke University Center for Child and Family Policy • Elizabeth DeKonty, Director, NC Resilience & Learning Project • Christy Lockhart, MSW, LSSW, Licensed School Social Worker, Koontz Elementary, Rowan-Salisbury Schools

Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville has received more taxpayer dollars via the state’s private school voucher program than any other school in the state. It’s also home to an embezzlement scandal involving a teacher who runs the school’s elite basketball program while spending weekends in jail. We take a closer look at the controversy and talk to the state agency that oversees the voucher program. Guests: • Lindsay Wagner, Senior Writer, Public School Forum of NC • Kathryn Marker, Director of Grants Training and Outreach, North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority • Rep. Billy Richardson (D-Cumberland)

Does having at least one black teacher make it less likely a black student will drop out of school and more likely to go to college? New research on North Carolina students says yes. We also discuss discipline disparities for students of color and meet the founder of a youth mentoring program in Durham. Guests: • Dr. Constance Lindsay, Research Associate, Urban Institute • Atrayus O. Goode, President & CEO, Movement of Youth

The NC Innovative School District, created by the General Assembly in 2016, is set to begin taking over some low-performing schools across the state and turn them over to charter school operators. However, the plan is getting serious pushback from some local communities, including Durham, which has one school on the short list. Guests: • Mike Lee, Chair, Durham Board of Education • Wendy Jacobs, Chair, Durham County Board of Commissioners • Lindsey Kennedy, Friends of Lakewood Elementary PTA

Last year average pay for principals in North Carolina ranked 50th nationally. The General Assembly responded with $35 million in pay raises for school-based administrators and a new principal pay plan. That plan is now generating concerns that many principals may actually lose pay and that it may create a disincentive for top principals to take jobs at chronically low-performing, often high poverty schools. This week on Education Matters we discuss what’s next with our guests. Guests: • Dr. Ray Spain, Superintendent, Warren County Schools • Matt Wight, Principal, Apex Friendship H.S., Wake County • Katherine Joyce, Executive Director, NC Association of School Administrators • Jason Griffin, 2017 NC Principal of the Year, Perquimans County

This week we meet Lisa Godwin, the 2017 NC Teacher of the Year from Onslow County. Plus we preview the upcoming NAACP Education Forum with NC NAACP Executive Director Dr. Terrance Ruth and retired educator Dr. Dudley Flood. Guests: • Lisa Godwin, 2017 NC Teacher of the Year • Dr. Terrance Ruth, Executive Director, NC NAACP • Dr. Dudley Flood, Consultant and Retired Educator

We discuss new K-3 class size mandates from the General Assembly and the dramatic impact they are already having on schools this year, as well as what it may look like next year without legislative action. Guests: • Jazzmone Sutton, Music Teacher, Wake County, President-Elect, NC Music Educators Association • Gussie Marshallsea, Visual Arts Teacher, Wake County • Aaron Marcin, Principal, Lead Mine Elementary, Wake County • Kathy Hartenstine, Wake County School Board, Retired Principal

UNC President Margaret Spellings discusses Charlottesville and Silent Sam, her first year on the job, college affordability, UNC’s state support, teacher preparation and more... Guest: • Margaret Spellings, President, University of North Carolina

The new – and controversial – NC Innovative School District, formerly known as the Achievement School District, is slated to begin taking over some of the state’s lowest performing public schools. We talk with Innovative School District Superintendent Dr. Eric Hall. We also examine a new teacher pay model being piloted in Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools. Guests: • Dr. Eric Hall, Superintendent, NC Innovative School District • Dr. Philip Holmes, Director, Project ADVANCE, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools • Courtney Sears, Teacher, Ephesus Elementary, Chapel Hill

The now 20-year old landmark Leandro case on education quality and equity in North Carolina’s public schools just took a surprising new turn. We talk with Melanie Black Dubis, lead counsel for the plaintiff school districts. We also meet Dr. Nicole Hurd, Founder and CEO of the College Advising Corps, a nationally recognized organization based in Chapel Hill helping make college more accessible for thousands of students across the U.S. Guests: • Melanie Black Dubis, Attorney, Parker Poe • Dr. Nicole Hurd, Founder and CEO, College Advising Corps

House Bill 704 passed by the NC General Assembly in June sets up a study committee to explore breaking up large school districts — Wake and Mecklenburg are the state’s two largest ones. Critics of the bill say it could lead to re-segregation of our public schools. We look at the bill, what’s next, and the history behind the current school district system in our state. Guests: • Sen. Floyd. B. McKissick, Jr. (D-Durham, Granville) • Rep. Rosa Gill (D-Wake) • Dr. Dudley Flood, Retired Educator

The budget just passed by the NC General Assembly eliminates retiree health benefits for teachers and all state employees hired after January 2021. What will be the impact of this major change in state employee benefits? Guests: • Richard Rogers, Executive Director, NC Retired Governmental Employees Association • Ardis Watkins, Legislative Affairs Director, State Employees Association of North Carolina • Dr. Anthony Jackson, Superintendent, Vance County Schools • Justin Parmenter, 7th Grade Teacher, Waddell Language Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

How does North Carolina stack up compared to other states when it comes to child well-being? The short answer – not great. This week we explore the key indicators of child well-being and what the state can do to improve the lives of NC children. Guests: • Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services • Laila A. Bell, Director of Research and Data, NC Child

With an actual budget in hand with votes this week, we talk with key education advocates for their take on the budget as well as two journalists who’ve been covering the budget process about how this came together and what’s next. Guests: • Mark Jewell, President, NC Association of Educators • Katherine Joyce, Executive Director, NC Association of School Administrators • Colin Campbell, News & Observer / The Insider • Jess Clark, WUNC Radio