Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

As a long time public school advocate and PTA leader, I know that every child deserves a world class education, right here in North Carolina. From pre-K through high school, education should be free to students and well-funded by the state. For our state to compete economically and for all individuals to live fulfilled lives, a quality education is crucial.

Our state government needs to restore the respect of our teachers and administrators, respect that has been damaged under the current leadership in our General Assembly. We need to increase teacher pay, restore pay scales that reward teachers for advanced degrees and experience and end pay incentives based on test scores. We also need to support ALL students through increased per pupil spending and investment in their school buildings. We need to provide students the resources to support their social-emotional learning through increased funding for school counselors, social workers and nurses.

As the mother of magnet school children, I understand the decisions parents make every year when it to comes to deciding where their child goes to school. But I also believe that all publically funded schools should be on a level playing field. For years, the current majority in the General Assembly has allowed our tax dollars to flow to unaccountable charter schools and voucher programs. That's not right. If a school wants to receive public funding, then they need to be completely transparent and provide the same resources that every North Carolina public school provides - like transportation, lunch programs, and additional resources for students.

North Carolina has some of the best institutions of higher education in the world. We need to ensure that they remain fully funded and have the resources they need to continue to grow. But, a four-year degree isn't for everyone; and in many cases, those that learn a trade, have a higher earning potential than those with a bachelor's degree. That's why we need to invest in our local community colleges and trade schools. In 2017, Governor Cooper proposed a plan to fully fund a community college education for those that meet attainable academic benchmarks. The best part is this plan is fully funded without raising any taxes.

North Carolina needs a well-educated work force to compete nationally and globally. From small businesses that employ almost half of all North Carolinians, to publicly traded companies - when we have an educated population, we all win. I know we can do better when it comes to education and I want to lead that change.

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