North Carolina Public Policy Boot Camp: fostering students’ understanding of public policy and the effects on their daily lives

EdNC.org

What is Public Policy Boot Camp? 

Nate Barilich, EdNC Summer Fellow 

A public policy boot camp for students, designed by teachers

Telling student stories to change public policy

Change: The fairy tale come to life

Keep Track of Thoughts Here:

Group 1, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4

There are many tools to use throughout the the next two hours to tweet questions, thoughts, and share overall excitement.

At Education NC we are “Including you in the conversation about our schools.”

Twitter: @EducationNC

Facebook: @EducationNC

Instagram: @educationnc

“Public Problems Require Public Solutions”

-Anita Brown-Graham

• Riley Foster, UNC Economics and Public Policy Double Major
  • CED Strategies at work
• Molly Osborne, EdNC Summer Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Masters in  Public Policy
  • Framing the conversation around “Diffuse and Concentrated”
• Tyran Hill, NC Housing Coalition, Local and Regional Policy Advocate  
  • Advocacy and knowing the who???

Riley Foster, UNC Economics and Public Policy Double Major

Molly Osborne, EdNC Summer Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School, Masters in Public policy

Tyran Hill, NC Housing Coalition, Local and Regional Policy Advocate

Test Yourself: N.C. General Assembly

Take a few minutes and complete the above poll

Each session of the General Assembly in North Carolina convenes for two years – often referred to as a biennium.  

• “Long” session started on January 28, 2015
  • • Bills are introduced and a two-year budget is adopted
    • The state’s fiscal year runs July1-June 30.
    • The “long” session typically it lasts until July or so.
    • This year, the General Assembly adjourned on September 30th, making it the longest “long” session since 2002. It ran 13 weeks past the end of the fiscal year.
•  “Short” session convened in April 2016
  • During the “short” session, bills that have passed one house, recommendations from a study commission, or issues related to the budget are in play during the short session.  
  • Earlier start than in previous years
  • This session, lawmakers changed the primary date to March, and with the primary date moved up, the “short” session can begin earlier.
    

• This is a Citizen part-time legislature.
• 120 Members of the N.C. House.
• 50 Members of the N.C. Senate.
•  All legislators serve 2 year terms.
• No term limits.
  • How does this information compare to the polls?
  • Should we pay legislators more and have a full time pay system vs. part time pay?

Republicans control all three branches of government for the first time since 1898:

• Pat McCrory, Governor
• Veto-Proof Majority in the House and Senate
• Majority on the N.C. Supreme Court

Test Yourself: Representation in the House

Take a few minutes and complete the above poll

2015-2016 Session: House

• Republicans: 74 (62%)
• Democrats: 45 (37%)
• Unaffiliated: 1 (1%)
• Men: 94 (78%)
• Women: 26 (22%)
• White: 97 (81%)
• Black: 22 (18%)
• American Indian: 1 (1%) (C. Graham)
• Latino: 0 (0%)

How does this data compare to your polls? How about populations in the state of N.C.? Use EdNC Data Dashboard. 

Test Yourself: Representation in the Senate 

Take a few minutes and complete the above poll

2015-2016 Session: Senate

• Republicans: 34 (68%)
• Democrats: 16 (32%)
• Men: 38 (76%)
• Women: 12 (24%)
• White: 39 (78%)
• American Indian: 0 (0%)
• Black: 11 (22%)
• Latino: 1 (2%) (Apodaca)

How does this data compare to your polls?

“20 Members are Serving First Elected Term in N.C. House; 13 Members are Completely New to the NCGA.”

“12 Members Are Serving First Elected Terms in the N.C. Senate; 6 New Members are completely New to the NCGA.”

Does Experience Matter?

Is Diversity Limited to Just Race?

How an Idea Becomes a Law 

This very complicated chart shows you how a bill becomes law in North Carolina.  You can find this on the General Assembly website. Note that often the ideas for bills start with you, the concerned citizen.

Alex Granados, Education NC Legislative Reporter 

1. Process of House Bills
   1. HB 242: Charter Schools
   2. HB 1080: Achievement School Districts
2. Process of School Funding
   1. Principal Training Programs
   2. Opportunity Scholarships

Further Reading: The 2016 Legislative Session: What’s hot and what’s not in ed policy Update: General Assembly approves budget compromise

“Inspiring and Empowering Students to Take Charge of Their Education”

Andrew Brennen, Student Voice, National Field Director 

Take Action Now

What will you do 4 good?

Thank you and feel free to contact me at any point: [email protected]