Members of the House Education Committee will wait until next week to vote on the “Opportunity Scholarship Act”, but State Superintendent June Atkinson left them with something to ponder at Tuesday’s hearing.

Dr. Atkinson told lawmakers if public schools were going to be judged on an A-F grading scale, then private schools receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers should face the same scrutiny.

“Each school receiving taxpayers dollars should be graded in the same manner in order for parents to have the necessary information to make wise decisions,” said Dr. Atkinson.”If a grading scale of A-F is good for public schools, then it should be good enough for private schools.” Read More…

The North Carolina “Opportunity Scholarship Act” will gets its first hearing before the House Education Committee today.

Supporters contend House Bill 944 gives students a choice, a chance to attend a private institution that may better serve their individual needs.

But critics maintain that taxpayer money should stay within the public school system, and once that money is directed to  private schools, there is no accountability to ensure that students are getting a high quality education.

Bill sponsor Rep. Rob Bryan says under the revised bill, $10 million would be earmarked for the program in its first year and $40 million the second year. Eligible families would receive an amount not to exceed $4,200 per year, per student.

Matt Ellinwood,  a policy analyst with the Justice Center’s Education & Law Project, says lawmakers should be concerned because in education systems that have experimented with vouchers, traditional public school students regularly outperform voucher recipients.

Ellinwood joined us over the weekend on News & Views with Chris Fitzsimon to discuss his research on vouchers and “opportunity scholarships.”  Click below to hear a portion of the interview or click here to listen to the full radio interview or download a podcast.

The House Education Committee meets this morning at 11:00 a.m. in Room 544 of the Legislative Office Building.

Freshman Rep. Jacqueline Schaffer used a parliamentary maneuver to end debate in the House Thursday on her bill which would place further limits on abortion.

House Bill 730 – the Insurance & Health Care Conscience Protection Act -  would prohibit local governments from offering health plans that include abortion coverage to employees, and prohibit health care plans offered through the exchange under the Affordable Care Act from offering coverage for elective abortion procedures. The measure further allows public hospital employees to refuse to participate in abortion care if they object on religious or moral grounds.

Rep. Rick Glazier said lawmakers were wrong to interfere in “one of the most intense, personal, spiritual, and private decisions” a person could make, warning the courts have struck down portions of this bill in other states:

“The Affordable Care Act preempts what we are trying to do on the floor. At some point, we ought to follow the law,” said the Cumberland County Democrat.

Rep. Schaffer argued the legislation protects the rights of conscience of all health care providers, and has nothing to do with restricting access to abortion.

The bill passed 72-39 to survive the crossover deadline, and now heads to the Senate. To hear Rep. Glazier speak on the bill, click below:

The NC Senate approved legislation Wednesday that lifts a cap on terminal groins, allowing for these small jetties to be built at all the inlets along North Carolina’s coast.

Supporters say the hardened structures are effective at controlling erosion. But critics have long argued while terminal groins may protect one area, they cause further damage to other properties down the coastline.

Orange County Senator Ellie Kinnaird argued that she was greatly concerned about the push to strip away environmental protections:

“They are now allowing the terminal groins in the 14 inlets, and there are practically no restrictions,” explained Kinnaird. “So, what we are doing essentially is turning our beautiful North Carolina beaches into New Jersey. Do really want to look like New Jersey? Or do we want to keep our beaches what they have been for all of these years – a wonderful sweep of clean beach.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Brown suggested it was time to let those who live at the beach year-round take care of the coast:

“I try not to get up here in meddle in your stuff…but it sure seems like everyone wants to get involved in the coast,” said Brown.

The N.C. Coastal Federation has also voiced reservations about the legislation which weakens safeguards put in place in a 2011 bill.

Senate Bill 151 passed third reading (36-11) and now moves to the House. To hear a portion of Wednesday’s debate, click below:

Got questions or comments about the McCrory Administration’s plan to  privatize much of the state’s Medicaid system?

Health and Human Services Secretary Aldona Wos and Medicaid Director Carol Steckel will hold two public hearings today and again on Thursday to answer questions about privatizing the $13 billion program and what it would mean for patients and health care providers.

Wednesday in Durham:
4:00 p.m.
Durham Hilton
3800 Hillsborough Road, Durham, NC
RSVP with names of attendants to RSVP@dhhs.nc.gov

Thursday in Greenville:
1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
East Carolina Heart Institute at ECU
115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC
RSVP: http://ncdhhs-greenville.eventbrite.com/ or to RSVP@dhhs.nc.gov