Author | Lightnews

NC congressional map giving GOP 11 of 14 seats wins final approval • NC Newsline

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 7d

Again...lawmakers have left Raleigh without working on the budget. Instead, majority members passed new redrawn congressional districts to benefit Republicans in 2026. North Carolinians are tired of these games. We want real results for people! #nced #ncpublicschools
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/22/n...

NC Republicans approve new congressional districts, dismantling a Black voting bloc, to add another GOP seat to help President Donald Trump.

ncnewsline.com

No fees for applying to NC college this week. Here's how students can take advantage

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 8d

It's NC College Application Week. Most college waive application fees for students applying this week. Find out more! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/story/no-fee...

It's a part of College Application Week, which opened Monday at 7:30 a.m. It ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

NC redistricting plan advances as Black leaders condemn new map • NC Newsline

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 8d

Shameful that NC lawmakers are redrawing US Congressional voting maps to try to get one more Republican into Congress and remove Dist. 1 Rep. Don Davis. Let's just have FAIR maps that allow our state true representation of its 50-50 split! #nced #ncpublicschools
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/21/g...

Republicans push new map granting additional GOP seat closer to finish line. Previous occupant of that seat cries foul.

ncnewsline.com

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 10d

Comments are open on the redistricting of North Carolina's Congressional maps. The new maps were proposed to secure an 11 (R) to 3 (D) majority in NC in the 2026 election despite our nearly identical proportions of R and D in the state.
www.ncleg.gov/requestforco... See less

Request For Comments - North Carolina General Assembly

www.ncleg.gov

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 10d

In its first year of vouchers in MO, 98% of the $ is going to religious schools. In NC, over 86% of voucher $ went to religious schools. What happened to separation of church and state? PUBLIC dollars belong in PUBLIC schools! #nced #ncpublicschools
missouriindependent.com/2025/10/13/n...

Nearly all state funding for Missouri school vouchers used for religious schools • Missouri Independent

As state funding begins directly fueling Missouri's voucher program, a majority of students use the money for religious education.

missouriindependent.com

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Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 16d

What?!? NC has no budget & some lawmakers think it's more important to spend time making our congressional maps even more gerrymandered. Please refocus on your constituents. We need a budget w/fully funded public schools, Medicaid funding, & more - NOT political games.
www.wral.com/story/north-...

North Carolina lawmakers will attempt to redraw congressional districts

North Carolina is represented by 10 Republicans and four Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican leaders in the state legislature plan to draw new lines in the coming weeks.

As vouchers near 100,000, first evidence of churn can be seen

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Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 17d

Why are we putting up with this mess? Churn = Harmful to student learning. Let's end this Schools Choose Their Students program and fully invest in the public schools that serve ALL students! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.ednc.org/as-vouchers-...

While 98,917 NC students are receiving vouchers, more than 15,000 students who had vouchers in 2024-25 chose not renew.

www.ednc.org

Out-of-staters misrepresent Arkansas voucher data to champion school privatization - Arkansas Times

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 18d

It's typical gaslighting by voucher supporters. Enrollment in voucher program grows and it's attributed to people wanting more private options when the reality is that the growth is due to people ALREADY IN PRIVATE SCHOOL getting the voucher. Same story in NC.
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...

More families already in private schools are collecting LEARNS vouchers, but that doesn't indicate public school families are jumping ship.

arktimes.com

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 18d

Chronic shortages = big problems! "North Carolina had 1,544 special education teaching jobs last fall that were either vacant or filled by someone who didn't hold a qualifying teaching license. That's up from 616 in the fall of 2021." #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/story/nc-isn...

NC isn’t meeting federal special education requirements. State officials point to the teacher shortage

North Carolina will face more scrutiny from the federal government after failing to meet benchmarks of the federal Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.

SEL improves student grades, test performance

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Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 20d

A large-scale study just released shows that when schools provide social-emotional learning programs to all, students perform significantly better academically than peers in schools without universal SEL. No surprise there!
www.k12dive.com/news/sel-imp...

The meta-analysis of its benefits comes after parent and lawmaker pushback against social-emotional learning and as some educators rebrand the practice.

www.k12dive.com

North Carolina child fatality group links social media algorithms, AI chat bots to suicide risks

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 21d

"Teens like the idea of using a chatbot for emotional support. But really, they would much rather seek support from humans who are close by, like the school counselor or nurse"
www.wral.com/story/north-...

A subgroup of the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force is scheduled to discuss lawmakers' attempts to regulate social media and artificial intelligence use among young people in the state.

Book Bans Are ‘Common and Rampant.’ So Are Educators and Parents Fighting Them. | NEA

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 21d

9 in 10 The number of public school parents who are confident that their schools are selecting appropriate books. www.nea.org/nea-today/al...

Banned Books Week 2025 is Oct 5-11. Learn how to advocate for students’ right to read.

www.nea.org

Advanced Teaching Roles program shows improved test scores, but faces funding concerns

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 22d

Advanced teaching roles, first implemented in 2016, have been a way for educators to grow (and receive more $) professionally as well as keep quality educators in the profession. Unfortunately, state funding to continue the program is in question. #nced #ncpublicschools
www.ednc.org/10-07-2025-a...

The initiative provides salary supplements for highly effective teachers who mentor and support other educators while still teaching.

www.ednc.org

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 24d

A new law this year (passed over the veto of Gov. Stein) requires traditional public school teachers to catalog their classroom libraries for the public. But charter schools and private schools are excluded from the requirement. Why? #nced #ncpublicschools #ncpol
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...

New NC law means teachers are providing fewer books for their students to read

The new state requirement that teachers catalog the names of all the books in their classroom is drawing complaints from educators.

www.newsobserver.com

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Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 28d

This is a classic example of not listening to voters. In Nebraska, voters soundly rejected vouchers in 2024 (That wasn't the first time they had rejected vouchers!). Now, with the help of the federal gov't, they're being shoved into the state anyway.
apnews.com/article/tax-...

Nebraska joins Trump program to use public money for private school tuition

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has opted Nebraska into a federal program to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition.

apnews.com

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · 28d

It's true. Lawmakers have strong security measures in place for public schools but are 100% negligent when it comes to private schools. Contact your legislators and urge them to require criminal background checks for private school staff too! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wnct.com/business/pre...

www.wnct.com

NC education chief Green: State school spending is subpar

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 30

Supt. Green tells it like it is! State spending on ed is far too low. “This is an opportunity for our state to rise up” Green said. “Certainly to even come close to reaching even SC and VA would be $3,000 to $4,000 per child more than what we’re funding here in NC.”
www.reflector.com/apgstate/nc-...

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green championed public education in a visit to Pitt County this week, pointing to the state’s recent record-high graduation rate as evidence th...

www.reflector.com

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Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 25

This is another blow to our schools from the U.S. Department of Education. Pulling funding for teacher education that is intended to help Pre-K teachers better serve special ed. students is just cruel. #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wunc.org/education/20...

Trump admin cancels special ed grant to UNC-CH to train future Pre-K teachers across NC

It's part of the U.S. Department of Education's crackdown on grants promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

www.wunc.org

Educators Can Play a Role in Preventing Student Suicide | NEA

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 24

It is Suicide Awareness/Prevention Month. Let's help our educators help our students!
www.nea.org/nea-today/al...

Teachers and support staff know that welcoming, safe, and supportive learning spaces that are accepting of all cultures, languages, and identities help students do better in school. They can also help...

www.nea.org

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 20

Good news...Bad news. "North Carolina Teaching Vacancies Fall 31%. But Numbers Mask Deeper Problems. Fewer open positions from budget cuts and disappearing fed. relief funds, not from solving chronic recruitment and retention challenges. #nced #ncpublicschools
www.governing.com/workforce/no...

North Carolina Teaching Vacancies Fall 31%. But the Numbers Mask Deeper Problems.

Fewer open positions stem from budget cuts and disappearing federal relief funds, not from solving the state’s chronic recruitment and retention challenges.

www.governing.com

Wake teachers using AI in the classroom set tone for safe, smart learning

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 18

Looking for ideas for AI use in the classroom? Here are some good ones! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/news/educati...

Wake Schools lacks a comprehensive AI policy, but students and teachers follow one key rule to ensure students’ data is protected.

Border Belt schools start new year with teacher vacancies

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 11

Districts close to the SC border are facing teacher shortages. Did you know that teacher pay in SC is much higher than teacher pay in NC? Contact your NC legislators. We need to compete! #nced #ncpublicschools
borderbelt.org/teacher-vaca...

School districts in the Border Belt had dozens of teacher vacancies when they welcomed students back to classrooms last month.

borderbelt.org

Public Schools First NC @publicschoolsfirstnc.org · Sep 8

Changing how school performance grades are assigned has had bipartisan support for years. Maybe it fill finally happen. While they're at it, let's get some school performance grades for voucher-accepting private schools too! #nced #ncpublicschools
www.wral.com/story/nc-edu...

NC education leaders want to change how schools are graded. What analysts say is needed

State Superintendent Mo Green plans to form a task force to study revising how school performance is calculated, part of a strategic plan approved by the State Board of Education.