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Perspective | NC Legislators in Schools Week: An opportunity for relationships to flourish

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Screen shot from the Jan. 27, 2026 episode of Education Matters, featuring: Rep. Alan Branson, R-Guilford; Rep. Amos Quick III, D-Guilford; Winston-Salem/Forsyth Superintendent Don Phipps; and Rachel Candaso, 2025 NC Teacher of the Year.

The following is Amos Fodchuk’s “Final Word” from the Jan. 17, 2026 episode of “Education Matters” from the Public School Forum of North Carolina on saving the date for North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week.

As in many other states, state-level elected officials in North Carolina play a crucial role in shaping policies that affect communities across the state, particularly when it comes to local public schools. Nurturing strong relationships between these officials and the communities they serve is essential to fostering collaboration, ensuring transparency, and incorporating diverse perspectives into policymaking.

“North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week” was created with this goal in mind: to strengthen connections between policymakers and school communities by giving legislators the opportunity to experience the day-to-day reality of public education firsthand.

This year, North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week will take place during the week of April 13, and all members of the North Carolina General Assembly are once again invited to participate. The event provides legislators with the chance to step inside classrooms, walk school halls, and engage directly with the educators, students, and families who bring North Carolina’s public schools to life each day. These visits offer a meaningful window into both the successes schools are celebrating and the challenges they are working to overcome.

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During these school visits, legislators are encouraged to observe what it currently looks like to serve students in our local public schools, and to engage in conversations with teachers, students and parents. These interactions will provide valuable insight into how state education policies and funding decisions play out in practice.

Because North Carolina is home to a wide range of communities, these experiences can look very different from district to district, making firsthand engagement all the more important. Issues such as resource allocation, staffing challenges, and student support needs often come into sharper focus when viewed through the lens of local school communities.

Education policy should always be aimed at enhancing outcomes for all of North Carolina’s students, each of whom is entitled to a sound basic education under the state constitution. Events like North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week help create space for collaboration between educators and elected officials, allowing both groups to share perspectives, identify innovative solutions, and better understand the real-world impact of policy decisions. This exchange can lead to more informed, effective, and sustainable approaches to strengthening public education.

Perhaps most importantly, North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week helps build trust. When legislators take time to engage directly with school communities, it sends a clear message that local voices matter. These relationships help bridge the gap between policymakers and the people they represent, reinforcing confidence in both our local public schools and the leaders responsible for supporting them.

North Carolina Legislators in Schools Week is an opportunity to connect, listen, and learn. By intentionally building relationships grounded in understanding and collaboration, school communities and legislators can work together to advance policies that reflect local needs and strengthen educational opportunities statewide. Let’s use these partnerships to help move our schools closer to their potential, because they absolutely can be the best in the nation.