Advocacy

National PTA wants PTA members across the country to know about recent voucher bills introduced in Congress. National PTA has issued the following statement: A flurry of voucher bills introduced over the past few weeks would privatize the majority of our K-12 funds. Members of Congress are signing up to cosponsor these bills and momentum on Capitol Hill is snowballing. Senator Lamar Alexander and Rep. Luke Messer introduced a bill (the Scholarships for Kids Act, S. 1968 /H.R. 4000) that would turn 63 percent of federal education funding into private school vouchers. That means all federal education funding – with the exception […]

On February 25, the General Assembly convened the Educator Effectiveness and Compensation Task Force.  Presentation topics included compensation comparisons with surrounding states and an educator compensation overview.  Presentations from the Task Force meeting can be found here.

The General Assembly’s Legislative Research Commission on Common Core State Standards will hear public comments on March 20.  Information on how to sign up for the public hearing as well as Commission resources on Common Core can be found here.

Link to UNC TV interviews:  http://www.kellymccullen.com/north-carolina-school-funding-8th-best-or-46th-lowest/

On January 28, State Superintendent June Atkinson made the following presentation to the North Carolina General Assembly Government Operations Committee. http://www.ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/govops/Full%20Commission/2014%20Meetings/January%202014/1.%20Presentations/3.2%20Atkinson_ReadtoAchieve%20Presentation%2001282014.pdf

The North Carolina General Assembly Education Oversight Committee met this week and reviewed the following presentation on public school funding.  This presentation by the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners provides helpful information on the breakdown between local county funding, state funding, and federal funding of public schools. http://www.ncleg.net/documentsites/committees/JLEOC/Committee%20Meetings/2013-2014%20Committee%20Meetings/February%204,%202014/Rebecca%20Troutman-Local%20Funding%20for%20NC%20School%20Systems.pdf

National PTA posted the following PTA Takes Action alert on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – No Child Left Behind proposed reauthorization and introduction of the Family Engagement in Education Act.  National PTA Takes Action Link  

Governor McCrory recently signed House Bill 269 Children with Disabilities Scholarship Grants into law.  This law creates a new scholarship for children with special needs.  Those selected will receive tuition up to $3,000 per semester for reimbursement of private school tuition and special education and related services, including services provided to home schooled students.  Students must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to apply: a. Requires an Individualized Education Plan; b.  Receives special education or related services on a daily basis; c. Has not been placed in a nonpublic school or facility by a public agency at public expense;

The 2013 Long Session of the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned today and will reconvene for the 2014 Short Session on May 14.  Between now and May 14 is a good time to try and meet with your state senator and state representative in their home district.  We encourage PTA members to invite their elected officials to their local school to learn more about the school in their communities and to also learn about the work of PTA.  You can find contact information for your state representative and state senator via the following link:  http://www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx

The final Senate vote was 31-17 in favor of the bill and the final House of Representatives vote was 66-52.  The budget will now go to the Governor for his signature.