2/7/2025

New from EdNC

As 2025-26 applications open, big bump in number of vouchers first seen in data

by Mebane Rash | February 7, 2025

The number of vouchers is up 46,823 since the expansion of school choice, according to data released on Feb. 3, 2025. Currently, 79,372 students receive vouchers. In 2023, the N.C. General Assembly passed a state budget that included what Republicans...

WNC resilience project brings region’s educators and leaders together to talk about a way forward

by Caroline Parker | February 6, 2025

Open Way Learning led a WNC focused education and community initiative four months after Hurricane Helene made landfall in the region. The project’s goal is to reimagine education — leveraging the strengths, cultural richness, and known resiliency of the area....

Resources for educators following Trump’s new policies on ICE, immigration

by Hannah Vinueza McClellan | February 3, 2025

President Donald Trump’s campaign included many policies to restrict immigration and increase the number of arrests and deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the country. On Trump’s first day in office, he signed 48 presidential actions, several of...

NC STEM Center e-Update: Nation’s Report Card, STEM PD, PoY Finalists, and Duck, Duck, Who?

by Staff | February 6, 2025

Twice a month the NC STEM Center provides an e-update on what’s happening in STEM, and their latest edition is now available.

Perspective | Ethical student use of AI is an issue of building the right classroom culture

by Paul Cancellieri | February 6, 2025

Since the release of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools like ChatGPT in the fall of 2022, it has become clear that this technology will change many aspects of our lives. Tasks like reading and writing can be made much easier...

The Editor’s Notes

The board of the state health plan meets today at 9:30 a.m. to vote on whether to set premiums based on salary, which could impact veteran educators. Here is the agenda. Here is the presentation; see slides 48-54. A link to watch the board meeting is here.

The media advisory says:

“The State Health Plan Board of Trustees will vote on a measure to authorize the Plan’s ability to set premiums for active members based on a salary scale at its meeting on Friday, June 7. That will be part of a larger discussion on benefit structure and premium strategy to avoid a looming fiscal crisis.

“The goal of tiered premiums is to make coverage more affordable for Plan members at lower salary levels. Actual premiums will not be approved at this meeting. Premium rates and any plan changes will be voted on later this year.

“Despite increased funding from the state, the Plan is facing a $507 million deficit, which is estimated to grow to $1.4 billion by 2027. The Plan has been spending more than it has been bringing in and it’s out of cash reserves to help bridge the financial gap.”

Slide 54 notes, “If the Board elects to go back to one premium rate that would be workable under this structure.”

Stay tuned.

Need to know

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• Can Trump Ax the Education Department Without Congress?

  Education Week | February 5, 2025