Dr. Marc Whichard, Superintendent, shared that there is a joint effort across the state to encourage the North Carolina legislature to prioritize public schools by placing a moratorium on taxpayer-funded private school vouchers. As part of his comments, Dr. Whichard shared that public schools are up to the challenge of competing with private schools, providing that they are on a level playing field. He noted that private schools are not held to the same standards as public schools with regards to teacher licensure and student accountability measures. He noted that students receiving vouchers to attend private schools are not tested in the same way traditional public school students are, meaning families and the public have no way to know how well private schools are performing - as they are not graded like public schools. Additionally, because private schools are not regulated by the general assembly in the same way public schools are, there is no way for the public to know if taxpayer dollars are being appropriately spent. After Dr. Whichard’s comments, the Board unanimously approved a Resolution in Support of Prioritizing Public Schools and Opposing Unaccountable, Taxpayer-Funded Private School Vouchers.
The full July 1, 2024 Board Meeting video can be viewed by clicking on the following Board Meeting Video link. The July 1, 2024 Meeting agenda and associated materials presented to the Board can be viewed by clicking on Meeting Link.