How much have you, or a teacher in your life, sacrificed to NC classrooms in lost wages compared to the purchasing power of the salary schedule in the year they "signed up" for or was once offered in 2007-08 before the Great Recession? Derek Scott and I partnered on a project to help folks quantify... Continue Reading →
1 year later, NC teacher pipeline fixes are still as easy as ABC
Last year when the PEPSC/SREB licensure proposal was first unveiled, I wrote a solution-oriented alternative to what I believed would more effectively address the NC teacher pipeline issue. You can read the original post here. If you haven't been following this issue for the last year, I encourage you to read the original post first... Continue Reading →
What will Treasurer Folwell’s latest health plan disruption cost members?
According to this Raleigh News & Observer article, we'll find out over a year from now before fall open enrollment in 2024 just what the change in health plan administration from Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC to Aetna will cost members in terms of plan benefits, coverage, access to current providers, treatment paths, etc.... Continue Reading →
NC Teacher Licensure Proposal Prepares to Prioritize Contractors Over Children
A draft teacher licensure proposal soon to be considered by the North Carolina State Board of Education has been labeled “Pathways to Excellence.” It begs two questions: Where do the pathways lead? And for whom are they excellent? Where do the pathways lead? Credit: Dan4th Nicholas https://www.flickr.com/photos/43264265@N00 As the draft proposal is currently written, it... Continue Reading →
Teacher Prep Faculty Group Calls Out Faulty Licensure & Compensation Scheme
Kudos to the North Carolina Association for Colleges of Teacher Educators for their strong statement calling out the history, current issues, and future consequences of the draft teacher licensure and compensation plan being laundered through PEPSC. PEPSC plan promoters have written off the concerns of Educator Preparation Programs (EPP) as sourced in EPP's self-interest to... Continue Reading →
Is NC’s teacher licensure proposal ‘bold and innovative’ or ‘tried and failed?’
The Dallas Morning News published an article titled "Texas’ ‘wild west’ teacher prep landscape could make teacher shortage worse." It reflects on Texas' decades-long experiment with exposing children to underprepared classroom teachers in the name of rejuvenating the teacher pipeline. It neither served students nor addressed the pipeline. Here are some highlights: “It’s about getting... Continue Reading →
Why does NC insist on telling 75% of its students and teachers they’re not good enough?
Completing college application materials is a stressful time in the lives of my 12th grade students. It's a mix of excitement and anxiety. They need us to write recommendations, offer feedback on their applications, and give pep talks to encourage them to have faith in the work they've done. I couldn't let the piece of... Continue Reading →
Education NC: Solving North Carolina teacher pipeline problems as easy as ABC
Published here: https://www.ednc.org/perspective-solving-nc-teacher-pipeline-problems-as-easy-as-abc/ Original full length post found here: https://educatedpolicy.com/2022/01/21/the-problems-with-the-nc-teacher-pipeline-arent-complex-theyre-as-easy-as-abc/
First in Judicial Review
North Carolina's license plates have featured "First in Flight" and "First in Freedom" but as we drive our state forward we should check our rear-view mirrors for another historical milestone: First in Judicial Review. For those in need of a refresher, judicial review is a key check-and-balance between branches of government that empowers the judicial... Continue Reading →
The problems with the NC teacher pipeline aren’t “complex” – they’re as easy as ABC.
A flow chart is making its way around the state that claims to be the pathway to address the teacher shortage in our state. To be clear, there are many folks in North Carolina who have teaching certification. What we have is a lack of folks wanting to teach in North Carolina. https://www.sreb.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/ncgraphic_dec8.pdf?1617045981 As a... Continue Reading →