Cason Justice, a social studies teacher at Swansboro High School in Onslow County, was named North Carolina’s 2026 Teacher of the Year! He will serve as an ambassador for a year, promoting education and advising the State Board. #NCed

Five NC school boards ask the North Carolina Supreme Court to revisit its dismissal of the Leandro lawsuit, seeking to revive the plan that could have delivered billions for public schools. #NCed

State legislators returned to Raleigh for their so-called “short” session this week with some very basic jobs to finish. Here's what they need to do: #NCed

In his recommended budget, Gov. Stein proposes $2.3B for education, ~11% teacher raises, and bonuses. He emphasizes how ongoing delays are harming and will continue to harm our schools. #NCed

Wake County schools propose $10.5M in new cuts—on top of $5.2M earlier—including fewer assistant principals and reduced specialty teacher funding, as rising costs and declining enrollment strain the budget. #NCed

Orange High School principal Jason Johnson was named the 2026 National High School Principal of the Year, recognized for his supportive leadership and impact on students across North Carolina. #NCed

North Carolina A&T will hold a Day of Service to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson, with students and alumni participating in community projects to celebrate his legacy of civil rights and service. #NCed

Students at North Carolina A&T are frustrated after being stripped of their on-campus early voting site, arguing it limits the voices of black students. They vow to keep advocating for easier, more equitable voting options. #NCed

For NC’s public universities, the balance between idealism and pragmatism was baked in from the beginning. The state’s original constitution calls for the promotion of “all useful learning,” and UNC’s 1789 charter commends higher education to “consult the happiness of a rising generation.” #NCed

Gov. Josh Stein is pushing for teacher raises in his proposed budget, but disagreements continue to stall a state budget, leaving educators with a 1% drop in compensation. The legislature MUST take action in their upcoming session! #NCed

Tom Oxholm: There is a crisis in North Carolina of underfunding our public schools (including Charters). #NCed

A UNC System report warns North Carolina’s job growth is outpacing its supply of skilled workers, with a need for 5,000–10,000 more graduates each year—especially in nursing, engineering, and education—to meet rising demand. #NCed

UNC Wilmington is proposing a new medical school focused on primary care to address doctor shortages, especially in rural areas. The program could take 7–8 years to launch and aims to expand in-state training opportunities. #NCed

Guilford County Schools will close May 1 to allow educators to join a Raleigh protest pushing for a state budget and more school funding, with leaders saying the action supports students and highlights ongoing resource needs. #NCed

School construction costs in Wake County and across North Carolina have surged, rising 40–50% since 2021. New schools now cost tens of millions more, driving larger bond requests and likely higher taxes to cover growing needs. #NCed

Wake County schools may switch up to eight year-round schools to traditional or single-track calendars to save money and adjust to slower growth, with changes potentially affecting thousands of students starting in 2027–29. #NCed

NCSSM and NC State alumna Christina Koch just returned from the Artemis II mission - the farthest any humans have traveled from Earth in the history of mankind. Here we republish a delightful December 2020 interview with Koch, as she prepared to deliver a commencement address at NC State. #NCed

A UNC System report finds it isn’t producing enough graduates in key fields like teaching, nursing, and engineering, with a yearly shortfall of 5,000–10,000 degrees—raising concerns about meeting North Carolina’s workforce needs. #NCed

Six news outlets are suing the UNC System for withholding a publicly funded report on its School of Civic Life and Leadership. They argue it should be released, while UNC cites confidentiality concerns. #NCed

There’s been an upheaval in leadership of North Carolina’s General Assembly with the defeat of longtime Senate leader Phil Berger in a primary that spanned Rockingham and part of Guilford County. #NCed

Harnett County Schools will end Dual Language Immersion programs at several schools, affecting over 1,000 students. Families must choose to transfer or stay without it, as officials cite shifting enrollment and district priorities. #NCed

UNC Charlotte is launching a new School of Construction to train students for booming regional growth. The program will teach the full building process and aims to address worker shortages as billions in new development are planned. #NCed

The North Carolina Association of Educators is urging teachers to leave work May 1 and rally in Raleigh to push for higher school funding, better pay, and more resources— changes that would improve conditions for both educators and students. #NCed

About 30% of North Carolina college students face food insecurity. Advocates say extending SNAP certification from 6 to 12 months would help, since frequent renewal deadlines are easy to miss and cause many eligible students to lose benefits. #NCed

After the NC Supreme Court ended the Leandro school funding case, Robb Leandro called for new lawsuits. The decision canceled a major plan to boost school funding and left concerns that the state isn’t giving students an adequate education. #NCed

After nearly 32 years of litigation, the NC Supreme Court shot down a previous order from the courts today for the state to send $677.8 million to the state’s public schools. #NCed

The North Carolina State Board of Education delayed a vote on four new virtual schools after members raised concerns about quality and student outcomes. Officials want more details before approving the schools, reflecting growing caution about virtual learning. #NCed

BREAKING: The NC Supreme Court struck down a multi-billion dollar education plan in the long-running Leandro lawsuit, undoing a decade of precedent. The court ruled judges can’t force funding decisions, leaving school improvement efforts to lawmakers. #NCed

North Carolina Association of Educators plans a May 1 march in Raleigh, calling for more public school funding. The group cites low pay and poor conditions for teachers. They also urge lawmakers to reverse their decision to expand voucher funding even further. #NCed

UNC-Chapel Hill will cut about $90M over three years due to funding pressures. Cuts target admin, some academic programs, and aid. The school will still invest $45M in the priorities it has identified, like AI, safety, and growth. #NCed

Christina Koch, an NC State alum, will join Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flight since 1972, and become the first woman on such a mission. She’ll fly a ~10-day Moon orbit. #NCed

NC State plans to hire alum Justin Gainey as men’s basketball coach after Will Wade’s abrupt exit to LSU. A longtime Tennessee assistant, Gainey brings strong recruiting and defensive credentials as the Wolfpack seek stability. #NCed

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is on track to hit its goal of 85% of graduates being enrolled, enlisted, or employed three years ahead of their original schedule. The progress is thanks to focused tracking, though some challenges remain. #NCed

UNC has paused plans to renovate or replace the Smith Center until a new men’s basketball coach is hired and established, delaying a decision during a time of debate, high costs, and focus on program stability. #NCed

Janet Spriggs of Forsyth Technical Community College was named 2026 President of the Year. Since 2019, she raised graduation rates to 45%, closed racial gaps, boosted enrollment, and expanded the college’s regional impact. #NCed

NC Senate Dem leader Sydney Batch offers 20 votes for the House budget to break a GOP stalemate, needing only 6 GOP senators. Governor Stein urges the NCGA to pass a budget and support North Carolinians. #NCed

Hubert Davis was fired as North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball coach after 5 seasons (125–54 record). Despite early success, including a 2022 title game run, recent inconsistency and back-to-back first-round NCAA exits led to his dismissal. #NCed

Wake County schools will drop a proposed $18M special education cut after backlash. The plan would have eliminated 130 positions and increased caseloads. Officials now seek alternatives as budget concerns persist. #NCed

North Carolina’s budget stalemate froze raises, cutting average teacher pay ~1% to $60,984. The state ranks 43rd nationally, and about 10.1% of teachers—roughly 1 in 10—leave each year, worsening shortages. #NCed

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans its 2026–27 budget assuming a 3% teacher pay raise amid ongoing state budget delays. Uncertainty may force adjustments, Superintendent Crystal Hill says, as officials finalize the proposal. #NCed

North Carolina is still waiting for a comprehensive state budget, and once again our public schools are feeling the impact. #NCed

UNC Charlotte received $2M from a $5M National Science Foundation grant to expand SPARC6, offering scholarships, mentorship and transfer pathways for low-income STEM students at four NC community colleges to boost workforce readiness. #NCed

NC Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green visited Contentnea-Savannah School to highlight its role in the Golden LEAF Foundation program, which awarded the school a record $1.8M grant to boost middle school success and future career readiness. #NCed

Over 500 NC middle schoolers attend a UNCG Spanish-language Model UN, promoting bilingualism, cultural exchange, and global learning. The Conexiones program highlights language as a “superpower” while inspiring students to seek college and future opportunities. #NCed

The proposed relocation of the Dean Dome to “Carolina North” seems to have hijacked the conversation into areas unrelated to the mission of a university. The outcry has drowned out another option for the use of that land: An academic anchor in applied sciences. #NCed

Wake County Public School System plans budget cuts as rising costs outpace funding. Officials seek $25M more from the county. Increased meal prices and reduced special education services are being considered to help close the gap. #NCed

Public school leaders are coming together outside the classroom to improve the lives of Pitt County children and their families. #NCed

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University unveiled a Smart Intersection Test Facility in Greensboro. The site uses sensors, radar, and LiDAR to test automated vehicles and study traffic flow, crash risks, and pedestrian safety in real-world conditions. #NCed

Durham Public Schools staff rallied for a $22/hour minimum wage before a key budget vote. Workers say current pay is not a living wage and causes burnout and turnover. The district’s draft budget would raise the minimum to $19.22/hour instead. #NCed

Ashe County leaders say the child care shortage disrupts work for 900+ parents and costs the local economy about $5M a year. Business groups are discussing solutions like the NC Tri-Share program to share child care costs among employers, workers, and the state. #NCed