Plus, pre-K pilot program, Medicaid to pay for school mental health counselors + more
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** All For NC Newsletter
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Insights and Updates from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
A Note from Joy
Greetings,
Earlier this month, I dropped off my son for his first day of high school.
I was excited for his new adventure, but I didn’t expect the sheer joy I’d feel upon pulling up to the school! Music was blaring, the drum line was playing and teachers were welcoming students for a new year of learning.
Like most kids in NC, my son attends a local public school. And over the past few weeks, I’ve witnessed the hard work of his teachers, school counselors and administrators as they’ve tended to the academic and social needs of nearly 2,000 students.
Our public schools are doing amazing things to prepare our children to live, work and lead in North Carolina, and I can think of no better use for our state's tax dollars than to support them.
But public education is facing unprecedented challenges. North Carolinians are suffering a decades-long campaign to disinvest from our local public schools. Our state now ranks 48th in the country ([link removed]) in per-student spending and 38th in teacher pay ([link removed]) . Frankly, that’s inexcusable.
No school or system is perfect, but at ZSR, we believe that a strong public education system with well-resourced schools sets North Carolina up for success now and for generations to come.
I want all of North Carolina's children, not just mine, to have the best public schools in the country. Why shouldn't we?
All for NC,
Joy's signature
Joy Vermillion Heinsohn
Executive Director
Get Inspired
Stories of hope and action from our partners across NC
* The Pre-K Priority, a collaboration of community organizations in Forsyth County supported by Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, channeled $4 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act into 30 classrooms for a pilot project on early childhood investment. The results are in: investing in pre-K educators and classrooms has a major impact ([link removed]) on kindergarten readiness and teacher retention.
* Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI) is partnering with the NC Department of Public Instruction to help public schools hire mental health professionals through Medicaid. If your public school wants to participate, you can apply for free technical assistance ([link removed]) through August 30. ROI ran a successful pilot proving the model in 2021, and NC was recently awarded ([link removed]) a $2.5 million grant to expand it.
* The Freedom Hill Coalition, a collaboration of 16 nonprofits spearheaded by the Center for Racial Equity in Education, is pressing for changes to school suspension rules ([link removed]) , which disproportionately harm students of color. Rather than harsh disciplinary measures, the group wants to see more social workers, counselors and psychologists in schools to support students, and to end suspensions and expulsions for students younger than fourth grade.
* For years, Dogwood Alliance has stood up to Enviva Biomass, the world’s largest producer of wood-based energy, whose wood pellet production plants have harmed people in nearby communities across NC. This new piece in Nature ([link removed]) connects NC communities’ struggles for environmental justice to others across the South.
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What's New with ZSR?
* We are thrilled to welcome Tony Evans ([link removed]) , Technology Specialist, to the team! Tony is a native of Winston-Salem with years of information technology experience in the private and public sectors.
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The All For NC Newsletter is a monthly email from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation where we share insights from our staff, highlight stories of hope and action from partners across NC, and provide updates.
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