I'll be leaving EdNC at the end of June because...

Camden County Schools’ literacy transformation did not happen overnight. Rather than relying solely on outside training, the district developed teacher leadership pipelines for sustainability. www.ednc.org/in-camden-co...

The absence of quality time between parents and children “can look like unopened books, unsung lullabies, or diminished laughter,” writes Derek Uejo of Family Connects Durham. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

“The real work of public education lives in relationships,” writes Principal Donna Bledsoe. Please give yourself the gift of reading her love letter to the people who work in local public schools. It had multiple folks on our team (including me, obvs) in tears. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

A new kind of child care program is slated to open in summer 2027 in Yadkin County. Here's why other communities are taking note. www.ednc.org/new-multiuni...

"Collective impact requires infrastructure, not just intention." The Dudley Flood Center recently gathered stakeholders around policy priorities for N.C. education. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

“One of the biggest emerging risks to business leaders is the mental health of children and young adults, and implications that that will have on our workforce,” said Colleen Briggs, president of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. www.ednc.org/the-business...

A majority of parents with children under age 6 do not have the work or childcare arrangements they want, a nationally representative survey found

North Carolina's public schools work hard to support student mental health. But funding and workforce challenges complicate the ability of school health personnel to provide preventative services and keep up with the state's youth mental health needs. www.ednc.org/edexplainer-...

“Our mission is to change the narrative that this work is for poor people, for single women, as in other countries,” said Alan Ramírez, who coordinates the Industrial Sewing Program. “To ensure respect for this industry and for the people who work in factories.” www.ednc.org/the-dream-of...

The final brief in a series from NC Early Childhood Foundation highlights a lesson: Just as there is a science behind how children learn to read, there is a science behind how schools successfully implement change. www.ednc.org/brief-final-...

“When educators are trusted to lead and learning is rooted in relationships and relevance, students are more engaged and teachers have more room to do meaningful work,” writes Wesley Davis, leader of the WNC Resilience Project. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

“Business leaders understand return on investment,” writes Gene McLaurin, chair of the board of Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. “Few public investments offer this level of economic impact while also strengthening families and communities.” www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Onslow County is home to one of the best child care systems in the country — the military model — and a worsening off-base child care crisis. Here's how local leaders are drawing inspiration from the solution in their backyard. www.ednc.org/5-13-2026-wi...

"Why have me sit on a bunk all day?" said Eli Cobb, a student in the Furniture Tradesman Program at Catawba Valley Community College. Cobb is part of a cohort of students who are incarcerated that have "no doubt" they will find jobs upon graduation. www.ednc.org/catawba-vall...

Roughly 1 in 5 children in North Carolina face hunger. How does that impact their well-being? www.ednc.org/5-11-2026-th...

"(Child care) is also a workforce issue, it's a productivity issue, and ultimately an economic growth issue,” said Kristi Maida, director of ExCEL NC, a project funded by Leon Levine Foundation to get business leaders talking about child care. www.ednc.org/5-7-2026-exc...

2014 Principal of the Year Carrie Tulbert shares the personal shame she felt when her pay was cut due to a policy tying principal pay to student test scores. Learn about the reforms she proposes. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Compensation wasn't the only reason I left my teaching career in 2019, but it certainly played a role — and it isn't improving for my colleagues. www.ednc.org/4-28-2026-no...

Higher education institutions that have awarded at least $250,000 in Pell Grants to students during Fiscal Year 2025 can apply for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program by May 29. www.ednc.org/4-27-2026-fe...

Big news for my work bestie! EdNC's Liz Bell was recently named as a prestigious Spencer Education Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School for her leadership shaping early education. www.ednc.org/edncs-liz-be...

"Every child in North Carolina deserves the opportunity to thrive regardless of their ZIP code," said U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis. The third annual State of the Child Summit focused on policies that support overall child and family well-being. www.ednc.org/leaders-say-...

“The price of groceries, the price of supplies and materials, our insurance costs, like everything has increased … except our subsidy reimbursement rates,” said Mary Moody, owner and administrator of a child care center in Canton. www.ednc.org/4-20-2026-le...

“Simply put, principals cannot meet their leadership mandate without the ability to align instruction, culture, and family engagement across pre-K and the early grades,” writes Dr. Michael Little of N.C. State University. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Teacher Chanel Jones encourages other educators to share the stories of their students: “Because when people understand the lived experiences of students, they are more likely to respond with compassion, urgency, and action.” www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Juniper Level Missionary Baptist Church works to continue the legacy of a Rosenwald School's impact in the Panther Branch community. Read more here. www.ednc.org/rosenwald-sc...

Many students with parents or guardians in the military transition frequently from school-to-school. Month of the Military Child is about learning the best ways to support these students. www.ednc.org/4-6-2026-hon...

Haspel: Mississippi and its neighbors are improving literacy — and their early childhood investments deserve more credit www.the74million.org/zero2eight/a...

Educators and school liaisons recently highlighted the challenges military-connected students face as their families move to a new state or school district. www.ednc.org/03-23-2026-o...

“Students depend on the help of the adults in their lives to support learning, health, and safety,” writes a group of students from Myers Park High School. Learn how later school start times could help students thrive. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

“The issue is, what are the artificial, unnecessary stressors that we put on families as a result of policy choices?” said Elliot Haspel, a senior fellow with Capita. www.ednc.org/national-sur...

Jana Winders believes that arts education is “essential to students having a whole education." Here’s a look at a North Carolina Symphony Outstanding Music Educator in action. www.ednc.org/the-arts-are...

I've been waiting for this one to drop, from my colleague Ben. People who are incarcerated and participate in prison education programs are 43% less likely to return to prison than those who do not participate. Take a look inside North Carolina’s prison education system. www.ednc.org/inside-north...

NEW: RFK Jr. is spreading doubts about vaccine safety and considering changes that could prompt manufacturers to flee the U.S. market. History has shown how plagues from the past can roar back when trust in shots — or access to them — falters.

North Carolina was well represented at this year's SXSWEDU conference. See how education leaders, students, and teachers shared with the nation projects, podcasts, production, best practices, and more coming out of our state. www.ednc.org/north-caroli...

Village of Wisdom hosted its Black Genius Festival in February to celebrate and honor the Black Genius within the Durham community. www.ednc.org/architects-o...

Mental health literacy education provides tools for students to advocate for their health needs. Learn about how the Mental Health Literacy Collaborative is helping students promote community well-being. www.ednc.org/what-is-ment...

Special education students could face worsening services under a dismantled Department of Education, according to the Education Law Center. www.ednc.org/3-2-2026-dis...

As a K-5 global school implementing the 50-50 dual immersion model, North Newton students learn in both English and Spanish every day. www.ednc.org/high-expecta...

"It’s about so much more than food.” Research shows that eating school breakfast is associated with a variety of positive outcomes for students. Learn more about the first meal of the school day across North Carolina. www.ednc.org/hungry-kids-...

Love this! Tri-County Community College is leading the charge on affordable housing in Cherokee County. Through its construction program, the college is building 17 affordable homes while also training the next generation of construction workers. www.ednc.org/building-ski...

“Education, in Dr. Flood’s framing, is a public good, an act of collective care,” writes Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith of the Dudley Flood Center. “It was never meant to be reduced to test scores, sound bites, or political rhetoric.” www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships with adults are critical for infants and toddlers. Learn how early childhood educators contribute. www.ednc.org/edexplainer-...

New data show just 66% of children aged 3-5 in North Carolina meet the criteria for school readiness, but this guide can help families change that www.ednc.org/resource-ava...

The governor created a task force last year to come up with solutions to the state's lack of affordable, high-quality child care. Partnering with community colleges is one strategy the group is studying ahead of the legislative session. www.ednc.org/2-23-2026-st...

Literacy gains in Nash County Public Schools were not accidental, writes EdNC correspondent Amy Rhyne. They reflect a sustained commitment to collective accountability, intentional implementation, and clear communication. www.ednc.org/from-plan-to...

Can confirm, my former colleague Seth Ashburn was indeed a "goofball" in the classroom. Read how an EdNC perspective about valuing joy in teaching inspired him to reflect on joy in school leadership, because: “No one benefits from joyless schools.” www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Miguel Cardona, former U.S. Secretary of Education, said uplifting bilingual students and teachers is more important than ever. Read more of his remarks here. www.ednc.org/2-10-2026-mi...

“The month is an invitation to recognize that Black history is foundational to our shared history, and should be reflected in what students learn in every month of the year,” writes State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis. www.ednc.org/perspective-...

Dr. Chena Cayton, principal of South Central High School in Winterville, found a surprising way to grow student engagement at her school. Learn how paper bunnies helped her make that jump ;) www.ednc.org/perspective-...