Public schools play a crucial role in preparing children for life and their future. However, to make sure that they are providing the best education, it is necessary to constantly improve them.
The Public School Forum of North Carolina, a non-profit organization focused on education policies, recently outlined four major priorities to enhance public schools in the state.
These recommendations aim to improve school funding, raise teacher salaries, provide better student support, and enhance assessment and accountability in schools.
Adequate, Equitable, and Flexible School Funding
The first priority highlighted by the Public School Forum is the need for adequate, equitable, and flexible funding for public schools. The organization points out that North Carolina currently ranks among the lowest in the U.S. for funding public education.
In fact, the state ranks 49th in terms of state funding for public schools, and is also in the bottom three for per-student spending. This means that schools often struggle to provide the resources that students need to succeed.
The Forum believes that adequate funding would lead to better test scores, higher college attendance rates, and long-term economic benefits for the state.
Public School Forum’s President, Mary Ann Wolf, emphasized that the state needs to begin making significant investments in education to help the next generation of students achieve their full potential.
Increasing Teacher Salaries
The second priority calls for increasing teacher salaries to bring them up to the national average by 2030. Currently, North Carolina is falling far behind in teacher compensation, and many educators are leaving the state for better-paying jobs in neighboring areas.
This issue is a major concern, as many teachers in North Carolina are paid below a livable wage. Wolf noted that a third of the state’s educators are earning salaries that are not enough to cover basic living expenses.
To address this, the Public School Forum advocates for better pay to help retain skilled teachers and ensure that students receive high-quality education. A recent poll showed that 80% of respondents in North Carolina support higher teacher salaries.
Expanding Mental Health Support for Students
Another key priority is expanding mental health programs and staff in schools. North Carolina schools are currently facing a shortage of social workers, counselors, and nurses, which impacts students’ well-being.
The lack of mental health support is also contributing to teacher burnout, as educators are often asked to take on additional responsibilities in supporting students.
By increasing the number of mental health professionals in schools, the state can help improve student outcomes, ensure better support for children, and reduce teacher stress.
This step would also make North Carolina more attractive to quality teachers who are looking for a supportive work environment.
Improving Assessment and Accountability
The final priority of the Public School Forum focuses on improving the way schools are assessed and held accountable for student outcomes.
Wolf explained that schools receiving taxpayer dollars, including private schools that benefit from vouchers, should be required to publicly report their performance.
This would allow parents, lawmakers, and the public to understand how well their tax money is being spent and ensure that schools are truly providing quality education to all students.
Currently, North Carolina’s system for holding schools accountable is weak, making it difficult to track progress and compare student success across schools.
The Forum’s recommendation is to create a new model for measuring school performance that provides clear and transparent data.
The Public School Forum of North Carolina’s proposed priorities offer a roadmap to significantly improve the state’s public education system.
With better funding, higher teacher salaries, increased mental health support, and stronger accountability measures, North Carolina could see substantial progress in its education sector.
These improvements are not only important for the students but also for the state’s long-term economic health. Ensuring that every child has the resources and support they need to succeed is key to building a strong and prosperous future for North Carolina.
