THREAD: I dug into the data on NC's main school voucher program for this story and broke it down into these graphics for y'all... #nced#ncpol wunc.org/2023-04-24/nc-…
The Opportunity Scholarship is the biggest voucher program in NC, and new bills would grow it #nced#ncpol
The NC State Education Assistance Authority administers voucher programs and tracks the data, so it's all publicly accessible 👇 ncseaa.edu/opportunity-sc…
Opportunity Scholarships have already grown rapidly since they entered the scene in 2014.
I checked out all the current voucher recipients' schools, and found that 90% of Opportunity Scholarship students attend religious schools.
And about 1 in 6 of every registered private school student in the state receives an Opp Schol now. #nced#ncpol
NC's Opportunity Scholarship voucher has grown - not only in total awards given - but in value and eligibility. Bills in the House and Senate would dramatically expand the program... #nced#ncpol
The amount new #NCGA bills propose to spend on school vouchers in 2031 is equal to:
- 2x the public school transportation budget
- a 12% teacher raise, not incl. benefits
- more than annual state spending on all college scholarships
- a good chunk of Leandro funding #nced#ncpol
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🧵For #Durham folks who’re following the #DPS pay issue closely...
I want to focus on details dropped last night that reveal – let’s say oddities – in the salary study that determined the raises that workers are fighting hard to keep.
#nced @DurhamPublicSch
I’ve heard Mubenga say the #DPS salary study had “flaws.” But I didn’t realize til last night how widely these raises range. Based on info in the last bd mtgs:
-About 1,500 staff got raises of <15%. Most got a 4% raise.
-500+ got raises of 25%+
-Abt 25 people got raises of 40%+
Option 4 (voted down 4-to-3 last night) would benefit *more* staff than continuing the prior raises. But workers keep demanding those raises and the board passed them again for Feb paychecks.
Most #DPS classified staff (abt 1,500) are making *less* than this option right now.
The #DPS school board is meeting tonight, mostly in closed session, but bd chair @BettinaUmstead said the board will make a statement when they come back into open session later tonight. #Durham #nced
THREAD. Here are my takeaways from last night’s #DPS school bd mtg. Facts first, then quotes.
#nced #Durham @DurhamPublicSch
1. The raises #DPS paid to classified staff would be $9m over budget if they paid them the full school yr. The salary study was estimated to cost $10.8m and it would have actually cost $20m the way it was implemented.
2. HIL Consultants intended for #DPS to implement its study based on yrs of actual experience w/ a state agency, not the way DPS had honored state service in the past by including relevant private/out-of-state work.
🧵The @UNC_System BOG has plans to fund universities on a performance-based model.
"This is probably the most critical this decision this board will make in a decade because it has the impact of how the campuses operate for years into the future."
- @NCState Chancellor Woodson
The @UNC_System BOG finance committee had a robust discussion on the performance weighted funding plan today, with questions from board members and university chancellors. #nced#highered
Some arguments for the new funding model:
-it would incentivize and reward univs that meet strategic goals
-it could buffer univs from funding losses due to a current trend of enrollment loss
-it would cap gains/losses due to "performance" at 3%
The Innovative School District was big news when it came out 5+ yrs ago. The state was threatening to take over low performing schools.
Now the unsuccessful program is ending, and the one school affected has faced disruption and turnover.
2. When #NCGA rolled out the Innovative School District 5 yrs ago, critics said the model didn't work in Tennessee.
The 'school turnaround' plan let charter school operators compete to take over the lowest performing schools in the state. The new state budget ends it. #nced
3. I covered the Innovative School District closely in 2018. A charter school company took over operation of Southside-Ashpole Elem in Robeson County.