Education Matters

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

This week on Education Matters, two leading NC House members, Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) and Rep. Graig Meyer (D-Durham, Orange), will discuss the state of the budget process and key education issues being debated. Guests: • Rep. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke) • Rep. Graig Meyer (D-Durham, Orange)

State Board of Education Chairman Bill Cobey discusses proposed cuts at DPI and the ongoing power struggle with the State Superintendent and General Assembly. In the second segment, NC Charter School Advisory Board Chairman Alex Quigley and Research Triangle High School Chief School Officer Eric Grunden weigh in on recent charter school policy proposals. Guests: • Bill Cobey, Chairman, State Board of Education • Alex Quigley, Chair, NC Charter School Advisory Board • Eric Grunden, Chief School Officer & Founding Director, Research Triangle High School

This week’s show looks at the budget passed by the NC Senate, including the key education provisions and a controversial amendment passed at 3 am that appeared to target only Democratic districts for cuts. We talk with Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram whose district was hardest hit. We also talk with former NC Senator Howard Lee about the importance of leadership in education. Guests: • Senator Erica Smith-Ingram • Former Senator Howard N. Lee

This week on Education Matters, State Superintendent Mark Johnson talks HB13 class size debate, the State Board lawsuit, his listening tour and why he’s focusing on early literacy. This week’s show also includes a discussion with PNC Bank Regional President Jim Hansen and Dr. Kenneth Dodge from Duke University’s Center for Child & Family Policy about the importance of early childhood education. Guests: • Mark Johnson, North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction • Jim Hansen, Regional President, PNC Bank • Dr. Kenneth Dodge, Director of the Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University

This week we have two segments focused on the issue of race. First is a preview of an exciting new exhibition opening this week at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh called Race: Are We So Different? The second segment is a story about a group of middle school students who are making an impact by spotlighting – and seeking to honor – a local pioneer in desegregation in our state. Guests: • Emelia Cowans-Taylor, Asst. Head, Communications, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences • James White, Executive Vice President, Organizational Relations, YMCA • Joe Holt Jr. • Zack Boone, Exploris Middle School, Raleigh • Lev Cohen, Exploris Middle School, Raleigh

A look at the proposal to re-establish a NC Teaching Fellows Program to recruit new teachers into our state’s classrooms. Guests: • Rep. Craig Horn (R-Union) • Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Franklin, Wake) • Dr. Mary Ann Danowitz, Dean, NC State College of Education • Danny Bland, NC Teaching Fellow, Heritage High School, Wake Forest

This week we discuss state employee and retiree benefits with guest State Treasurer Dale Folwell and we talk about the state’s critical school building needs and how to cover the $8 billion dollar price tag. Guests: • Dale Folwell, North Carolina State Treasurer • Leanne Winner, Director, Governmental Relations, NC School Boards Association • Kevin Leonard, Executive Director, NC Association of County Commissioners