K-12 teachers in public schools are stressed, with 77% saying it is frequently stressful and 68% saying it is overwhelming.
Few are optimistic about the future of public education, with 82% indicating they think the state of public education has gotten worse in the past five years.…
School leaders are no strangers to fiscal cuts.
With personnel costs, including salary and benefits, typically consuming up to 80% of a school’s annual operating budget, leaders are frequently confronted with difficult choices regarding staff restructuring and layoffs when budgetary constraints arise — including from the end of federal pandemic funding, enrollment declines because of changing demographics, and the expansion of school choice.…
Across the country, the pandemic highlighted and exacerbated mental health challenges — particularly among youth.
In response, many states and school districts prioritized putting federal COVID-19 dollars toward mental health initiatives.…
Students at all Guilford County Schools traditional high schools now have access to free period products, thanks to the Period Power initiative by the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.…
As a seasoned veteran in the field of education, having dedicated two decades of my life in service to North Carolina Public Schools shaping young minds and fostering academic excellence, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of effective leadership on our school systems at a local, state, and national level.…
The Editor’s Notes
Schools and districts are facing increased budget pressure because of the federal funding cliff, enrollment declines driven by demographic changes, and school choice expansion. As principals and superintendents think about 2024-25 — from master scheduling to preparing budgets — we asked Matt Springer to write a series of briefs for us about research-based best practices. We watched — and learned from — Superintendent Trevor Putnam in Haywood County Schools who had to make hard decisions last year when his budget pressure was increased because the closing of a paper mill — the state’s largest layoff in 2023. Additional articles from Springer are forthcoming.
The intersection of technology and social and emotional issues for kids is getting more challenging. This special report examines how schools are trying to put student wellness front and center in a digital world....
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