North Carolina invites parents to provide “thoughtful guidance” to state public education officials

North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction is inviting parents to join its North Carolina Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council to provide “thoughtful guidance” to state officials.

“The initiative is designed to elevate informed family voice, strengthen trust and ensure that those closest to students play an active role in shaping the future of public education,” reads the department’s June 4 press release.

Not only parents but also guardians and other family members – all who are “primary caregivers” – have until Sept. 15 to apply, the release said.

“As we continue to implement our strategic plan, it is critical that we engage families not just as stakeholders but as informed partners,” said North Carolina Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. “This council will help us build a strong group of leaders who understand our system and can provide meaningful input to improve outcomes for students.”

‘Where is the accountability for past plans?’ 

The strategic plan mentioned by Green was released last fall. At the time, it drew criticism from several analysts for a lack of attention to academic performance.

“Where is the accountability for past plans and past failures?” asked Robert Luebke, Ph.D., and director of the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation, a pro-liberty think tank based in Raleigh. “Has the State Board of Education or NCDPI paid a price for missing goals? A plan for correcting those oversights might be a good place to start.”

Several media outlets, however, praised the news about the parent advisory council, describing it as one more step to support the state’s strategic plan.

“Members will receive training on topics such as school funding, governance, accountability measures and state education initiatives before the council begins meeting quarterly in November,” the local ABC affiliate reported. “Most meetings will be held virtually and members will serve two-year terms.”

The Tar Heel State is wrestling with multiple school closures across districts as public enrollment continues falling despite population increases.

“Almost all of that growth has been from ‘in’ migration, not from natural change (more births than deaths),” said Nathan Dollar, who works at the Carolina Population Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Births are declining and you have ‘out migration,’ and so that can cause hyper aging and a decline in [average daily membership].”

Meanwhile, more families are withdrawing from traditional classrooms to explore charter schools and private options, including school choice and homeschooling.

“The reservoir of good will and trust the public schools enjoyed is eroding,” Luebke said. “The growing popularity of charter schools and the Opportunity Scholarship Programs points to that.”