Tag: public schools

Forsyth County: A case study in school re-segregation and the illusions of “choice”

July 2, 2012 at 12:59 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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Reporter Travis Fain had an interesting story in the Winston-Salem Journal yesterday about the re-segregation of Forsyth County’s schools that has occurred in recent decades and the illusion that “school choice” can somehow provide a remedy for this situation. Wake County and others that have not already become fully resegregated themselves should pay attention.

Here’s a powerful passage:

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system used to bus students across town to balance the schools. But the U.S. Supreme Court struck down those tactics in a series of decisions in the 1990s. Locally, busing was phased out starting in 1995 in favor of “choice zones,” which allow parents to choose from among multiple schools.

Racial resegregation quickly accelerated in the schools and led to concentrated poverty in certain schools. Read More…

Fitzsimon File: Monday numbers

June 25, 2012 at 7:32 amCategory:Uncategorized

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(Please note: The main NC Policy Watch website — the usual home for the Fitzsimon File – is down temporarily this morning for a very brief repair so today we’re cross-posting Chris’ regular “Monday Numbers” here on The Progressive Pulse.  The main PW site will be back up very shortly).  

Editors note: This morning’s Fitzsimon File cross-posted from the main NC Policy Watch website.

11,802—increase in the number of students expected to enroll in North Carolina public schools in the 2012-2013 school year (N.C. Department of Public Instruction)

189 million—amount in dollars of the reduction of total funding for public schools in the 2012-2013 budget approved by the House and Senate last week (“New math on school budget,” WRAL.com,  June 21, 2012)

3.042—number of teachers and teacher assistant jobs lost in the 2011-2012 school year as a result of the budget passed by the 2011 General Assembly (N.C. Department of Public Instruction)

3,400—number of teacher jobs at risk for 2012-2013 school year as a result of the $189 million cut in overall education funding (“Fact Check; the forgotten budget,: WRAL.com, June 22, 2012)

1,440,212—number of students enrolled in public schools at start of 2009-2010 academic year (N.C. Department of Public Instruction) Read More…

You know things are bad when…

June 21, 2012 at 8:44 amCategory:Uncategorized

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Conservative leaders announced their “budget deal” yesterday and at least some supporters of public education have been emitting sighs of relief in light of the fact that it includes minor pay raises for teachers and does not include far right proposals to introduce a school voucher/corporate tax credit program or transform all teachers into temporary employees.

Have things really gottern this bad? Talk about your sad commentaries.

The “deal” — a plan that was cooked up by a few people completely behind closed doors — is terrible and ought to be loudly described as such by anyone who cares about our public schools. Among other things, Read More…

Getting down to brass tacks

June 19, 2012 at 9:40 amCategory:Uncategorized

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A lot of important battles throughout history (be they political or military) have turned on a matter of just a few critical moments in the middle of the night. Many took place before the victors or the vanquished even realized what was happening.

We may be approaching one of those moments right now in North Carolina when it comes to the future of public education. Last night, conservative lawmakers inserted a voucher program (masquerading as a corporate tax credit) into the K-12 education overhaul bill that they are attempting to ram through the General Assembly in the waning days of the 2012 short session.    Read More…

Dr. Bill Harrison pans the Senate’s education budget

June 13, 2012 at 3:10 pmCategory:Uncategorized

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(The following was posted yesterday on the blog of the Chairman of the State Board of Education, Dr. Bill Harrison). 

Senate leadership say that the budget they have presented this week provides more funding for public schools. This statement is misleading and dishonest. This budget is no cause for celebration or optimism. It does not dig school districts out of the $429 million discretionary reduction hole and it does not address the teaching positions lost when EduJobs funds ended. Instead, it adds new programs while whittling away at the basics schools need to function. It is similar to buying new appliances for your home while your roof continues to leak with every rainstorm. Most of us would address the roof first, the appliances later.

In addition, Read More…