Proposed federal rules could cut student loan access for some NC education programs with low graduate earnings, including teacher preparation and early childhood education. Community colleges expect limited impact due to low tuition and alternative aid options. #NCed

A new report ranks North Carolina seventh in the nation for economic school segregation. Researchers point to reduced integration efforts, school choice expansion, and housing patterns as factors driving greater separation by income. #NCed

A regional leadership program is helping northeastern NC schools boost literacy. Leaders collaborated, shared best practices, and used data to drive improvement. One district increased K-3 literacy proficiency from 60% to 72% in just one year. #NCed

UNC Wilmington is eliminating the director position for its Gender Studies Center and moving the program under a larger academic department. The change reflects broader efforts to scale back DEI programs, reducing support for female, transgender, and nonbinary students. #NCed

NC State students gained real-world marketing experience by developing merchandise campaigns for the Carolina Hurricanes. The partnership connected students with team professionals and highlighted career opportunities in sports branding and retail. #NCed

Wake County elections officials voted to move NC State’s early voting site from Talley Student Union to the Business Services Center, citing parking and access concerns. This is another alarming roadblock for student voters in NC following the removal of NC A&T's voting site. #NCed

Edgecombe County Teacher Owen Cole said it wasn’t until he started filling out his personal statement on a medical school application that he realized he didn’t want to be a doctor after all. That's when he found Teach for America. #NCed

Some of the diseases children face require highly specialized care. And they should not have to leave North Carolina to get it. #NCed

UNC Charlotte’s botanical gardens offer monthly nature therapy walks that encourage people to slow down, connect with nature and reduce stress. Research suggests spending time outdoors can support mental health and well-being. #NCed

UNC Pembroke’s REACH program is helping students turn research into graduate school opportunities, internships and careers. Fellows study history, culture and community stories while gaining hands-on research experience. #NCed

Faculty at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say the university is falling behind peer schools in pay. A faculty analysis found average salaries were about 27% lower than comparable institutions, raising concerns about recruiting and retaining top professors. #NCed

NC A&T is launching a Ph.D. in bioengineering, becoming the first HBCU to offer a standalone doctoral program in the field. The program will support advanced research and help the university pursue R1 research status by 2028. #NCed

A new report found North Carolina teacher colleges have greatly improved reading instruction training. Most now follow the Science of Reading, helping better prepare future teachers to improve student literacy. #NCed

Wake County schools and Wake Tech are launching a new apprenticeship program that lets high school juniors and seniors earn free college credit, gain hands-on training in skilled trades, and receive pay. Funded by a $4 million grant, the program will begin with 60 students in 2027. #NCed

Elizabeth City State University students became the first researchers from an HBCU to contribute to the American Campus Tree Genome Project. Their work mapping the DNA of a historic campus oak tree was added to a global genetics database, giving scientists worldwide access to the research. #NCed

Justin Parmenter, a seventh-grade language arts teacher in Charlotte, says the state's school grading system relies too heavily on test scores. It unfairly labels many high-poverty schools as failures, ignores student growth, and fails to reflect real learning or classroom success. #NCed

Western Carolina University students are helping REACH of Haywood County expand its domestic violence shelter. Using drones, 3D modeling, and design planning, they are supporting renovations that could help more survivors access safe housing. #NCed

Wake County schools may increase breakfast and lunch prices by 25 cents next year. District leaders point to rising labor, food, and operating expenses. The change would generate about $650,000 but add to the financial strain on families. #NCed

NC State Auditor Dave Boliek will review North Carolina’s private school voucher program. The program currently costs the state a whopping $587.5 million a year and is on the rise. We hope the audit will improve oversight and accountability. #NCed

New Hanover Community Endowment pledged $116 million toward a proposed school bond. The money depends on voters approving the $320.5 million bond in November. The funding would support new schools, renovations, and security upgrades in NHCS while lowering the expected tax increase. #NCed

UNC-Chapel Hill hasn’t kept up with North Carolina’s growth. But it intends to now, with a plan to add 5,000 students over 10 years. #NCed

North Carolina’s proposed teacher pay plan would give big raises to new teachers, but many veteran teachers say smaller raises and long pay plateaus will make it harder to keep experienced educators in the classroom. #NCed

Madison Minga-Perry helped build a new residence hall at North Carolina A&T while earning her degree. Her internship with Samet Corporation led to a full-time construction job after graduation! #NCed

Wake schools say heightened ICE enforcement hurt attendance among immigrant and English learner students, contributing to lower graduation rates as families feared sending children to school. #NCed

Cook Literacy Model School held an emotional final fifth-grade promotion ceremony before closing for good, due in large part to a lack of funding. Families and staff celebrated students’ achievements while mourning the loss of a longtime neighborhood school. #NCed

Students at Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools are learning science through hands-on experiences after a new state science standard rollout and donations from a local public school foundation. #NCed

Once again, the University of North Carolina has become a culture-war battleground with the recent denial of tenure for Kiran Asher. #NCed

Student mental health support must start early. Fayetteville State’s new counseling center highlights rising needs, while experts warn trauma, stress and violence can harm learning, behavior and long-term wellbeing without early intervention. #NCed

Matin Maani, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Apex Friendship Middle School, was named Wake County’s 2026 Teacher of the Year after just four years in the classroom. #NCed

As school voucher programs rapidly expand, critics warn they are draining money and students from public schools, deepening inequality and creating separate education systems across the country. #NCed

North Carolina House Republicans overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a tax-break bill backed by private school voucher supporters, advancing a measure aimed at diverting money away from public schools. #NCed

A North Carolina survey found teachers spend 9.3 unpaid hours weekly on school work outside class, with many saying meetings and lost planning periods are fueling burnout and taking time away from teaching. #NCed

School districts across North Carolina are closing campuses due to declining enrollment, tight budgets, and aging buildings, forcing communities to consolidate schools while trying to preserve programs and services. #NCed

UNC Pembroke is launching a grant-funded program to train and support STEM teachers for high-poverty rural districts, aiming to ease chronic science and math teacher shortages in southeastern North Carolina. #NCed

North Carolina lawmakers propose major teacher raises, boosting starting pay 17% to $48K. Veteran teachers would get smaller raises and face continued pay freezes, leaving NC still trailing neighboring states in teacher compensation. #NCed

We don’t know all the important details yet, but we’re grateful to state legislators for their announcement this week that they’ve agreed on an average raise of 8% for our state’s public-school teachers. #NCed

UNC Pembroke's Alicia Thomas earned the 2026 Emerging Museum Professional Award from the North Carolina Museums Council for her community-focused work preserving and sharing Southeastern American Indian history and culture. #NCed

North Carolina students are improving in math but still lag in reading, reflecting a nationwide “reading recession.” Experts point to pandemic setbacks, absenteeism and outdated teaching methods as schools expand phonics-based instruction and literacy coaching. #NCed

Wake County Public School System restored Canvas access after a nationwide cyberattack exposed student data. Officials say no ongoing risk remains, but experts warn students and families to stay alert for phishing and extortion scams. #NCed

North Carolina A&T received a $600,000 USDA grant to study quinoa farming in North Carolina. Researchers will use drones and sensors to help farmers grow the drought-resistant grain and diversify crops. #NCed

North Carolina may require mental health training for all school coaches after the NCHSAA mandated it for high school head coaches. Lawmakers say coaches can help spot anxiety, depression and burnout in student athletes. #NCed

Two rural school districts that were plaintiffs in the 32-year-old Leandro suit over state support for public schools are still reeling from the N.C. Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the case. #NCed

NC Treasurer Brad Briner is launching high school financial literacy clubs and internships to help teens learn money management earlier. The clubs will teach topics like credit, investing and taxes, while the internship program will offer mentorship and scholarships. #NCed

The UNC System is exploring 90-credit degrees to cut cost and time. Seven universities proposed 18 programs, led by NC State, while others like UNC-Chapel Hill did not participate. The programs focus on workforce needs and could launch by 2027. #NCed

Thousands of NC teachers made a lot of noise in Raleigh on Friday. The question is whether they made a difference. Teachers came from all over our state asking for better pay – and even more, respect from the legislature in a state that now ranks 46th in average teacher pay. #NCed

Forsyth Technical Community College and Stanly Community College are semifinalists for the $1M 2027 Aspen Prize. They are recognized for showing strong student success when it comes to measurement like graduation and job offers. #NCed

HBCUs are boosting women’s flag football, with schools like Winston-Salem State University leading growth. New teams and conference support are creating more chances for women to play and compete in college. #NCed

Private schools in Guilford County received $31M in state voucher funding, with top schools getting millions each. This comes at the same time that legislators are hoping to cap local property taxes and Guilford County Schools remain underfunded. #NCed

At NC State, DEI repeal means identity-based centers remain but must serve all students under strict “neutrality” rules. Staff face limits on language and programming, and a Pride Center firing has raised concerns about censorship and job security. #NCed

Nc’s scholarship for children of wartime veterans is currently underfunded due to the stalled state budget. Students are receiving reduced or delayed aid, and while lawmakers have proposed emergency relief funding, long-term funding efforts remain unseen. #NCed