RALEIGH (July 11, 2024) – Amid an intense discussion of education options in North Carolina, the NC School Boards Association launched a campaign this week with a simple message: Public education does the public good.
It’s a clever play on words – public schools do thousands of good things in their communities. And in a loftier sense, public education is indeed a public good.
Though it takes no position on any legislation, the campaign – which includes social media and billboards across the state – is designed to build support for the public schools that more than 80% of North Carolina students still attend.
“Thriving public schools uplift society as a whole, no matter what type of education fits your family’s needs,” said Jennifer Thompson, President of NCSBA’s Board of Directors.
“Public education was a cornerstone of the foundation of America for many reasons. Everyone benefits from a strong public school system. We all need to support our public schools.”
THE CAMPAIGN pursues several themes.
“The right to public education. It’s something we can all agree on. Except, we don’t. Because out of 50 states, North Carolina ranks 42nd in school funding,” says one message. It cites several statistics:
- Average teacher pay in the state ranks 36th among the states (in 2021-22, and it’s fallen further since then);1
- The 2022-23 school year started with more than 5,000 teacher vacancies across the state; and
- The state’s teacher shortage has increased by 244% in just three years.
“OUR PUBLIC schools aren’t failing. We are failing our public schools,” it says.
The campaign doesn’t directly confront plans in the NC General Assembly to increase taxpayer-funded vouchers for students to attend private schools to as much as $625 million a year.2
But it calls the debate over whether to support public schools or alternatives “a false choice.”
“Because no matter what type of education makes sense for your family, thriving public schools lift us all,” it says.
It also notes that public schools play a role in just about any current issue.
“The economy? It can’t grow without an educated, skilled workforce,” the campaign says.
“North Carolina has a long and proud tradition of public schools,” said Leanne Winner, NCSBA’s Executive Director, “but we can’t take them for granted. We all need healthy public schools. And to stay vibrant, they need us. They need you.”
To learn more, go to: https://www.publiceducationmatters.org/
1 https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank/teacher.
2 https://www.wral.com/story/senate-approves-budget-but-lawmakers-remain-at-odds-over-compromise-deal/21493645/.
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