Today, Western North Carolina local leaders and educators are speaking out and asking the legislature to prioritize substantial investments in storm recovery instead of locking in billions of taxpayer dollars on private school vouchers.“The people of Western North Carolina need our support right now to continue recovery and rebuilding their communities,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “When legislators return to session, they must prioritize helping our neighbors in Western North Carolina instead of sending hundreds of millions more in taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers.”
Topics Related to Education
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced in coordination with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services that more than $129 million in food assistance has been distributed to more than one million children through the SUN Bucks program during its first summer of operation in North Carolina.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced $1 million in new funding for public school field trips with North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) Secretary Reid Wilson at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. The “Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund” will provide North Carolina public school students with access to enriching field trips to the over 100 DNCR locations across the state.
Legislative Republicans’ plan to spend $625 million this year on taxpayer funded private school vouchers instead of public schools will hurt rural communities the most. And school boards and leaders in rural North Carolina are speaking out. Voucher expansion would disproportionately impact rural North Carolina counties, where access to private education is limited and public schools serve as the backbone of communities. Recently, local papers have highlighted this attack on public education in North Carolina.Read how communities will be affected below:
Today, Governor Roy Cooper vetoed HB10, the Republican scheme to take taxpayer money out of public schools and redirect it to private schools. The Governor was joined by education and business leaders from both sides of the aisle to highlight the disastrous impact this would have on public schools, particularly those in rural areas.Governor Cooper issued the following statement on his veto of House Bill 10 Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments:
This week, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is releasing $67.5 million in stop gap funding to stabilize North Carolina’s early childhood education and child care centers, the last scheduled payment of Child Care Stabilization Grants. Initiated in 2021, Child Care Stabilization Grants have been critical in keeping child care centers open and improving early childhood teacher pay. Earlier this year, the Republican-led General Assembly provided the $67.5 million to continue Child Care Stabilization Grants through December 31, 2024, however at a reduced funding
Today, Governor Roy Cooper visited Bethel Elementary School in Cabarrus County as part of the “Year of Public Schools” education tour and delivered supplies collected from the Governor’s School Supply Drive.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and Democratic legislative leaders held a press conference highlighting Republican legislators' disastrous plan to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on taxpayer funded private school vouchers while that should be going to public schools. The Governor was joined by Rep. Robert Reives, Sen. Dan Blue, Sen. Michael Garrett, Sen. Lisa Grafstein, Rep. Sarah Crawford and Rep. Cynthia Ball.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper visited Leicester Elementary School in Buncombe County as part of the “Year of Public Schools” education tour and delivered supplies collected from the Governor’s School Supply Drive.
With a new school year beginning in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper will continue highlighting the outstanding work being done in North Carolina public schools and urging the legislature to fully fund public education and make meaningful investments in teacher pay.