Issue Position: Schools

Issue Position

Education is an investment, not an expense. Good schools provide economic development, lower taxes and healthy communities.
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We have made many strides in improving education in North Carolina and our community colleges and our 4-year colleges and universities rank among the top in the nation. However, our K-12 public schools statewide continue to rank in the middle of the pack or worse when compared to other states. This is not acceptable.
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Many of the best ideas for improving our schools come from parents, teachers, and principals not Raleigh bureaucrats or big money consultants. We must recognize this and we should always listen and respond to their ideas and concerns. It is imperative that we set high standards for our schools, but we must also give our school systems and individual schools the flexibility they need to meet standards and best educate their students. More local control, coupled with accountability, is a must for improving education in NC.
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It is imperative for the future health of our economy and our communities that we ensure that our public schools, our community colleges, and our four-year colleges and universities are preparing our students for success in a 21st century economy. The most important factor in where a business locates, relocates or expands to in today's world, according to research by CNBC, is whether the community they are considering has a smart, skilled workforce.

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