Last week, the North Carolina Senate passed a bill that would require high schools across the state to simultaneously offer two completely different math tracks: the integrated math sequence that is currently taught in middle and high schools ...
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Matt Ellinwood
Matt Ellinwood's articles and posts
Earlier this month, Governor McCrory signed legislation that ends the practice of providing Personal Education Plans (PEPs) to students who are at risk of academic failure. Though probably an unavoidable step given the flawed and sporadic use and ...
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Comments Off on North Carolina should not abandon its commitment to individualized education
Despite major concerns and numerous unanswered questions, a special committee appointed by the State Board of Education recently recommended approval of both applicants seeking to create virtual charter schools in North Carolina. While the concept of introducing more ...
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Comments Off on Virtual charter schools recommended in spite of serious academic and financial questions
North Carolina must dramatically improve education for students with disabilities Officials from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will present an alarming report on the educational performance of students with disabilities at today’s State Board of Education ...
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Comments Off on We simply must do better
State lawmakers are quickly advancing legislation during the current legislative session to repeal North Carolina’s previous adoption of the Common Core Standards in education. Unfortunately, the debate on the subject has generated a lot more heat than light. ...
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Comments Off on It’s critical to find common ground on Common Core
More than half of North Carolina’s third graders could be held back this year as districts work to implement the state’s new “Read to Achieve” law. The program’s goal of ensuring that all third-graders can read on grade ...
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Comments Off on North Carolina’s looming third grade retention crisis
As inauguration day draws near, it remains unclear if the Governor McCrory who takes office in January will have more in common with Mayor McCrory, the pro-business moderate, or candidate McCrory, who appeared to take a hard turn ...
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Comments Off on Will Pat McCrory’s real education agenda please stand up?
Charter schools remain among the most controversial and divisive subjects in the national debate over public education. Some see them as them as a critical solution to what ails K-12 schools while others see them simply as a ...
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Comments Off on Expansion of charter schools should bring better oversight and more accountability
North Carolina’s policymakers have developed a consistent two-part approach to improving public schools: take away with one hand and punish with the other. Aside from the implicit paradox involved in punishing children, teachers, and schools while simultaneously removing ...
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Comments Off on Taking bucks and passing the buck