education briefings for candidates for office in 2008 context of education
TRANSCRIPT
Education Briefings for
Candidates for OfficeIn 2008
Context of Education
www.ncforum.org
Education Briefings for General Assembly Candidates
Introductory Session A Quick Look at “Just
the Facts”
Who/What Governs
Schools in NC?
www.ncforum.org
1987-88 2007-08
School Districts 140 115
Employees 114,190 187,463
Students 1.08 million 1.46 million
State K-12 budget $2.29 billion $7.91 billion
Per-Pupil Spending* $3,118 $4,684
% of State Budget 45.5% 37.3%
Just the Facts. . .
* Includes only state General Fund contributions
Just the Facts. . .
#1: Schools in NC Are Essentially State-Run(“He who pays the piper…”)
65 % State Funding
State Pay SchedulesState CurriculumState TestingState Assistance Teams (“Turn around”)
#2: Only 3 School Systems Have Taxing Authority (Chatham, Lee, Vance)
Just the Facts. . .
#3: School Systems Are Few in Number
Hawaii 1
NORTH CAROLINA 115 (ranks 38th highest)
US Average 278
Texas 1,035
#4: Consolidation & Size of School Districts
US Average= 5,887 studentsNC Average= 12,442 students
#5: NO Collective Bargaining
#6: Growing DiversityNC Hispanic population 428% in past decade170 languages are spoken in NC schools
Just the Facts. . .
#7: Population Growth Swelling (Selected Areas)
North Carolina’s school-aged population: 6th fastest growing
Increased by 279,000 children over the past decade; 20,700 MORE estimated for next year
20002008:
18 Counties: 50% of the Growth11 Counties: LostLost population:
Anson Bertie Caswell EdgecombeHalifax Hyde Lenoir MartinNorthampton Warren Washington
Just the Facts. . .
#8: 2006-07 Private/Non-public populationis just 10% of enrollment for all schools
Just the Facts. . .
2000-01 2006-07
Conventional Non-Public 89,789 6.5% 94,785 6.0%
Home Schools 33,860 2.4% 68,707 4.3%
Total Non-Public 123,649 8.9% 163,492 10.3%
Regular Public 1,253,507 90.2% 1,394,900 87.9%
Charter Schools 14,809 1.1% 28,883 1.8%
Total Public 1,268,316 91.1% 1,423,783 89.7%
Grand Total Enrolled in All Schools
1,391,965 1,587,275
#9: Cost to Raise Salaries 1%
Teachers & Instructional Support =$40.1 m
ALL School Personnel=$54.1 m
ALL state employees=$100 m
#10: Personnel…Major Portion of the Budget
90.6%=benefits & salaries4.4%=transportation4.4%=supplies0.4%=school technology 0.1%=staff development
Just the Facts. . .
A Key Question for Our Discussion Today Is . . .
“Who Runs Schools In North Carolina?”
More to the Point . . .
“What Impact Can I Make If Elected?”
School Governance
The Office of the Governor(bully pulpit, budget proposals & veto)
State Board of Education General Assembly(budget recommendations; responsible for (power of purse strings rules and regulations, curriculum & testing) & frequently pass
educational policies)
Local Boards of Education(hire superintendent, propose local education budgets,determine attendance lines, can initiate major changes
like year-round schooling or magnet schools or afterschool programs, determine resource allocationsto schools, set local personnel policies, establish
goals for system)
County Commissioners(power of purse strings; approve/deny school boardbudget requests; set bond referendums, rarely, but
can weigh in on instructional/policy issues)
Because NC Is Centralized...
New Initiatives like More at Four or Smart Start Can Result in Measurable Performance Gains;
However, Short Lived or Misguided Initiatives like Career Ladders or Outcome Based Education Can Create Frustration and Erode Morale.
Because NC Is Centralized...
Politically Popular Educational Initiatives are Often at Odds With Research on What Works
There is a Real Temptation to Micro Manage the Schools
Local Control versus State Control Is a Never-Ending Tension
Leadership on Educational Issues Shifts Between the Governor, the State Board of Education & the General Assembly
Smart Start – Governor Hunt
More at Four – Governor Easley
High Schools – Governor Easley
ABC’s System – State Board of Education
SB 2 (1st accountability) – General Assembly
Funding for Poor/Small Systems –General Assembly
School Calendar Bill – General Assembly
Dropout Prevention Initiative – General Assembly
Collaborative Project – General Assembly
John [email protected]