Making NC Public Schools the BEST in the Nation

At the August meeting of the NC State Board of Education, Superintendent Mo Green and Board Chair Eric Davis revealed their ambitious vision for North Carolina Public Schools: high academic achievement, character development, and by 2030, they want our public schools ranked as the best in the nation.

They revealed the detailed plan for making it happen—Achieving Educational Excellence: 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for North Carolina Public Schools—and stated in its introductory letter that “The plan is a declaration: Public education is the foundation of North Carolina’s future.”

After highlighting key facts about North Carolina’s public schools, the strategic plan presents a short mission statement to help clear up any confusion about the role of the state’s education leaders:

The mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education and the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is to use their constitutional authority to guard and maintain the right to a public education for every student in North Carolina and to support public school units in providing every student an excellent education that prepares them for success in their next phase of life.

The strategic plan lays out comparisons to other states and very specific benchmarks to achieve best-in-nation status:

Four-Year Cohort High School Graduation Rate increases from the current 87% in 2024 to 92% by 2030.
ACT Composite Score increases from 18.5 in 2024 to 20 by 2030.
Participation in AP Exams grows from 21.5% (2024) to 30% and performance from 65.4% passing (2024) to 75% by 2030.
Performance on Advanced Placement Exams increases from 65.4% (2024) to 75% in 2030.
Participation in character education increases along with national school character education recognition.
Also listed are benchmarks for Participation and Performance in Dual Enrollment Courses, Career and Technical Education Courses/Credentials, Performance in 4th and 8th grade reading and math on NAEP, and Percentage of school-aged children enrolled in public schools.

Realization of these and other goals rests upon successful actions across eight pillars. These eight pillars were informed by the listening/learning tour conducted by Superintendent Green from February through May, 2025:

Prepare Each Student For Their Next Phase in Life
Revere Public School Educators
Enhance Parent, Caregiver and Community Support
Ensure Healthy, Safe and Secure Learning Environments
Optimize Operational Excellence
Lead Transformative Change
Celebrate the Excellence in Public Education
Galvanize Champions to Fully Invest in and Support Public Education

Each pillar is defined and the indicators of success (measures) are listed, followed by proposed actions to achieve the goals.

For example, Prepare Each Student For Their Next Phase in Life (first pillar) means "giving them the tools that all people need to function in the 21st century. It also means ensuring access to opportunities after they graduate from high school. Because every student is different, the preparation they need must be flexible and responsive, tailored to their individual needs…."

The performance goals for this pillar are reflected in several of the measures listed above (e.g. 92% graduation rate). Proposed actions to achieve success are grouped into several focus areas followed by specific actions listed in chronological order by their target completion date. There are many actions with ambitious timelines.

We encourage you to read the full plan. The focus areas for the first pillar (Prepare Each Student For Their Next Phase in Life) are listed below followed by the first action listed (each focus area has 3-6 actions) and target dates:

Ignite early learning. Expand high-quality pre-K and strengthen kindergarten readiness by partnering with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and PSUs to align standards, coordinate inclusive early learning systems and enhance transition supports. (January 2026).
Elevate teaching and learning. Implement the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative through cross-agency collaboration to transform educator practice and student outcomes in rural schools, focusing on high-quality mathematics instruction via the High Reliability Schools model. (July 2025)
Promote excellence for all. Support PSUs in expanding access to rigorous pathways, such as AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge International, Career and College Promise (CCP), credentialed Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), to ensure every student takes and passes a college level and career-connected course. (April 2026)
Reimagine the student experience. Promote awareness of NC College Connect and NextNC to provide direct admission to North Carolina colleges and universities and financial aid to support the cost of attendance. (August 2025)
Launch life-ready graduates. Develop a statewide toolkit to support schools in implementing high-quality character education that teaches students to be good citizens, as well as important values such as respect, responsibility, integrity, perseverance, courage, justice, and self-discipline. (January 2027)

The strategic plan also includes steps that will be taken to ensure effective implementation and progress monitoring. A new Office of Strategic Planning at DPI will be established to oversee the execution and evolution of the plan, current staff will be tasked with specific parts of the action plans, and senior leadership will review progress as part of a new Strategic Plan Monitoring and Accountability Committee (SPAC).

Read the plan.

The Best Hope for Public Schools Is You!

Now is the time to make sure that we keep informed about our public schools and use this knowledge to defend the promise they hold. Time to speak up loudly and advocate fiercely to make sure our public schools and our teachers have the funding and support they need to help our students be successful.

Individual involvement is critical. Below are a few ways you can contribute.

Advocate with Elected Officials. Public schools are facing many challenges, especially underfunding and teacher shortages. You can protect public schools & students by advocating with your elected officials to address these challenges to make sure our public schools remain strong and equitable for all students.

Contact your state and federal lawmakers, county commissioners, and school board members. Share your ideas about how they can help make our public schools stronger.
Attend school board meetings. Express your concerns and opinions on matters affecting public education.
Join parent-teacher organizations (PTA/PTSA). PTAs offer a structured platform for parental involvement and advocacy, influencing school decisions and supporting educational initiatives.
Support local school funding initiatives. Vote in favor of bond measures and other initiatives that provide essential resources for schools.

Contribute Your Time and Skills. Research demonstrates that when parents, families, and community groups collaborate with schools, students tend to achieve more academically, enjoy school more, and stay in school longer. You can contribute to this success in many ways:

Volunteer in schools. Opportunities range from classroom assistance to serving on school improvement councils.
Become an academic mentor to help students who are struggling with their schoolwork.
Donate classroom supplies or funds to your local public school.
Stay informed about your child's learning. Collaborate with their teachers to address any academic challenges.

Foster a sense of community. Community involvement strengthens the ties between schools and the community they serve.

Create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment for everyone:

Engage in school community events. Attend workshops, performances, or sporting events to connect with other families, teachers, and school leaders.
Celebrate diversity. Participate in multicultural events or initiatives that showcase the richness of your community's traditions and experiences.

Ultimately, the future of public schools hinges on the collective efforts and sustained commitment of individuals who believe in their mission and are willing to invest their time, energy, and resources to ensure their success. Let's ALL do our part!

Proposed Federal Cuts Means More Hungry Students

Federal budget cuts scheduled to go into effect on October 1 will affect more than 1.4 million low-income children in North Carolina who stand to lose their critical SNAP/FNS (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/Food and Nutrition Services) benefits according to information from the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Being eligible for SNAP makes it easier for families with children to access other food benefits. School-age children receiving SNAP are automatically eligible for free school breakfast and lunch during the school year and for food benefits during the summer. SNAP eligibility makes it easier for families with women, infants, and children to show they meet WIC’s (Women, Infants, Children) income requirements and to ultimately qualify for the WIC program.

The most important school supply is food. When the federal government reduces funding for food programs and the state government doesn't fill funding gaps, local communities and schools are left without the support they need. Teachers see this up close. In a recent survey of 1,000 teachers nationwide, 74% said they have children who come to school hungry. We know that North Carolina’s teachers rank #2 in the nation in the amount of personal income they spend on school supplies. Some teachers count healthy snacks for hungry students as essential school supplies.

Kids who have access to healthy meals do better in school. As Leah Carpenter, NC 2022 Burroughs Welcome Fund North Carolina State Teacher of the Year says, "Feed them, and then we can teach them." (Watch the video.)

It is in the best interest of all North Carolinians to make sure our children have the food they need to thrive. Contact your federal lawmakers and urge them to stop the SNAP cuts!

Legislative and SBE Updates

The House and Senate have adjourned until August 26.

Check the legislative calendar for updates. See our Week in Review for a summary of legislative activity this session.

The State Board of Education's next meeting is September 3-4. You can find links to their agenda and live stream (YouTube) links HERE.

Take Action to STOP Federal Education Cuts!

On July 25th, $6.8 billion in K-12 funding that had been frozen for weeks was released. Your pressure made this happen. Every phone call, meeting, and conversation with neighbors made a difference.

Now the administration is pushing to cut $12 billion from public education in the federal budget starting October 1st (FY 10/1/2025 - 6/30/2026).

Members of Congress are recessed for August. This is a great time for constituents to reach out and let them hear from you!

Congress will reconvene to vote in September on the proposed $12 billion in public education cuts. Let’s let them know how harmful these cuts to public education will be. They will eliminate afterschool and summer programs, arts & technology classes, teacher recruitment & training, emergency preparedness and mental health services, and more.

Read our Action Alert and contact your lawmakers!

Where, oh where is Leandro?

Words to Remember

"Out of public schools comes the greatness of a nation."

— Mark Twain, from a speech given in 1900, The Mark Twain House and Museum, Hartford, CT

Help us support public schools!

Public Schools First NC is a statewide nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused solely

on pre-K to 12 public education issues. We collaborate with parents, teachers, business and civic leaders, and communities across North Carolina to advocate for one unified system of public education that prepares each child for productive citizenship.

Questions? Contact us today at [email protected]