North Carolina A&T has been named the nation’s top public HBCU in Forbes’ inaugural rankings. The recognition highlights the university’s affordability, graduate outcomes and role as a leading producer of Black STEM graduates. #NCed

Forbes ranks N.C. A&T as America's leading public HBCU

It’s the business magazine’s first-ever ranking of historically Black colleges and universities.

wfdd.org

GTCC’s summer camps give middle and high school students hands-on experience in fields like art, robotics and healthcare, helping them explore career paths while experiencing life on a college campus. #NCed

Summer camp at Guilford Technical Community College helps kids discover their passion

JAMESTOWN, N.C. (WGHP) — Summer camps are in full swing all across the Piedmont. Some are academic while others are exploration camps. One camp at Guilford Technical Community College combines the …

myfox8.com

UNC trustees' self-evaluation reveals some believe the board exceeds its oversight role, encroaches on Chancellor Lee Roberts’ authority, and is influenced by outside politics. Roberts says board-administration relations continue to improve. #NCed

Some UNC-Chapel Hill trustees believe they overstep their authority. What they said

One trustee connects those outside influences and political principles to what they see as the board’s tendency to overstep.

newsobserver.com

Davie High School will launch its first girls flag football season Sept. 14, joining the NCHSAA’s newest sanctioned sport. Coach Bob Richardson says growing interest, college scholarship opportunities and strong early participation have fueled excitement for the program. #NCed

Girls flag football buzzing - Davie County Enterprise Record

Excitement is buzzing around Davie’s newest sport: girls flag football. The inaugural season will begin Sept. 14, with official tryouts starting Aug. 31. The coach is Bob Richardson, who starred […]

ourdavie.com

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools has eliminated its $46 million deficit after more than a year of budget cuts, county support and donations, leaving the district debt-free with a positive fund balance and more flexibility to cover teacher raises. #NCed

WS/FCS officially debt-free following financial crisis

Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools officials announced Tuesday that the district is now debt-free. The district has been chipping away at a $46 million deficit for over a year.

wfdd.org

Triad school districts are racing to hire bus drivers before classes begin, with dozens of vacancies remaining. Officials cite pay raises in the new state budget, while educators say higher wages are still needed to attract and retain staff. #NCed

NCAE President Christina Cole says NC’s new teacher pay raises are overdue and fall short for veteran educators, warning stagnant wages fuel attrition. She also called for higher per-student funding and renewed support for public schools. #NCed

'Too Little, Too Late': NCAE President Talks Teacher Pay Raises in State Budget - Chapelboro.com

The North Carolina General Assembly passed a state budget that includes pay raises for public school teachers.

chapelboro.com

North Carolina Superintendent Mo Green is accepting applications through Sept. 15 for a new parent advisory council. The group will meet quarterly to provide feedback on public education issues and help strengthen family engagement in schools. #NCed

NC superintendent wants to hear from parents on advisory council

Previous Superintendent Catherine Truitt similarly had a parent advisory council. Green's begins a year and a half into his tenure, as a part of his strategic plan, which includes a promise to engage ...

wral.com

Several University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni earned Emmy nominations, led by Katherine LaNasa for The Pitt. Alumni also received nominations across casting, cinematography, makeup, hairstyling and sound categories. #NCed

UNC School of the Arts alum Katherine LaNasa nominated for Emmy for role in 'The Pitt'

Several alumni of UNC School of the Arts are up for Emmy Awards, which were announced on Wednesday.

journalnow.com

A new federal Workforce Pell program expands financial aid for short-term job training, but strict eligibility rules mean fewer than 1% of North Carolina community college workforce courses currently qualify for the grants. #NCed

New program provides financial aid for workforce training, but few NC community college courses qualify

Officials estimate less than 1% of course sections will be eligible for Workforce Pell.

wfae.org

The $34 billion budget that Gov. Josh Stein signed Tuesday is a start, not a finish. #NCed

State budget: A start, not a finish - Public Ed Works

RALEIGH (July 9, 2026) – The $34 billion budget that Gov. Josh Stein signed Tuesday is a start, not a finish. First, it’s a year overdue — North Carolina’s legislature was the only one in America that...

publicedworks.org

A Guilford County school board member argues county commissioners failed to adequately fund public schools, approving $5.7 million instead of the planned $19 million increase. He warns the shortfall will lead to budget cuts that could reduce student services, staffing and educational support. #NCed

David Coates: For shame: Guilford County has failed to adequately fund its public schools

Our commissioners decided not to take the political heat for sharply higher taxes, so they instead cut services to schoolchildren. No profile in courage there. Please note that merit raises

greensboro.com

North Carolina's proposed budget requires public schools to allow students to miss class for up to four hours a week of religious instruction. The measure is one of several education policy changes in the bill. #NCed

Religious instruction, public schools and the NC budget: 5 things to know

The new state budget would require public schools to allow students to leave class for an hour a week of religious instruction.

newsobserver.com

North Carolina lawmakers cut funding for the Student Success Initiative, formerly the Minority Male Success Initiative. The program served more than 27,000 community college students with advising, wellness and career support. #NCed

State legislators end funding for community college student success initiative

Legislators left the 20-year initiative, which supported tens of thousands of community college students, out of the state budget.

wunc.org

The Upperman family is ending new scholarships at UNCW following the UNC System’s new equality policy. The family says honoring Dr. Leroy Upperman’s original intent is nonnegotiable and plans to move future scholarship funds elsewhere. #NCed

UNCW Upperman family pulling future scholarship funds over UNC System’s equality policy

For the first time in 30 years, the Upperman family isn’t awarding any new scholarships at UNCW. Linda Upperman Smith said the way the university wanted to rewrite the language around the application ...

whqr.org

NC’s new budget gives big raises to new teachers (up to 17%) but only about 5.5% to veteran educators. Experienced teachers say the increases trail inflation, hurt retention and signal the state values recruiting more than retaining seasoned staff. #NCed

Does NC legislature value teacher experience? Educators react to pay raises

Both chambers of the NC General Assembly passed the long-awaited budget plan Thursday.

charlotteobserver.com

Proposed federal rules could cut student loan access for some NC education programs with low graduate earnings, including teacher preparation and early childhood education. Community colleges expect limited impact due to low tuition and alternative aid options. #NCed

Access to federal loans could be cut off for many NC education programs

Limits on federal loans for many important but low-paying career tracks will likely affect NC education programs, but less than some states.

carolinapublicpress.org

A new report ranks North Carolina seventh in the nation for economic school segregation. Researchers point to reduced integration efforts, school choice expansion, and housing patterns as factors driving greater separation by income. #NCed

North Carolina among the most economically segregated schools in the US, report says

The report also said the nation’s public schools are now as segregated as they were in the 1970s. Here’s what it means.

newsobserver.com

A regional leadership program is helping northeastern NC schools boost literacy. Leaders collaborated, shared best practices, and used data to drive improvement. One district increased K-3 literacy proficiency from 60% to 72% in just one year. #NCed

How one group of educators is building stronger literacy leaders across northeastern North Carolina

A learning community has brought together educators from the northeast to deepen their understanding of effective literacy instruction.

ednc.org

UNC Wilmington is eliminating the director position for its Gender Studies Center and moving the program under a larger academic department. The change reflects broader efforts to scale back DEI programs, reducing support for female, transgender, and nonbinary students. #NCed

An NC university is eliminating the position of Gender Studies director

Dana Stachowiak’s leadership role will no longer exist, and the center will be brought under the university’s Interdisciplinary Studies umbrella.

newsobserver.com

NC State students gained real-world marketing experience by developing merchandise campaigns for the Carolina Hurricanes. The partnership connected students with team professionals and highlighted career opportunities in sports branding and retail. #NCed

Carolina Hurricanes give NC State marketing students an education in merchandise

“I don’t know how many professional sports teams exist in the same city as a premier public textiles university.”

newsobserver.com

Wake County elections officials voted to move NC State’s early voting site from Talley Student Union to the Business Services Center, citing parking and access concerns. This is another alarming roadblock for student voters in NC following the removal of NC A&T's voting site. #NCed

Wake board opts for alternative to longtime early voting site on NC State’s campus

The board opted instead for a separate university site farther away from main campus.

newsobserver.com

Edgecombe County Teacher Owen Cole said it wasn’t until he started filling out his personal statement on a medical school application that he realized he didn’t want to be a doctor after all. That's when he found Teach for America. #NCed

Edgecombe educator shares successes and struggles - Public Ed Works

By Amy Cockerham Public Ed Works  TARBORO (June 11, 2026) – Edgecombe County Teacher Owen Cole said it wasn’t until he started filling out his personal statement on a medical school application that h...

publicedworks.org

Some of the diseases children face require highly specialized care. And they should not have to leave North Carolina to get it. #NCed

Largest state without a children’s hospital - Public Ed Works

CHAPEL HILL (June 11, 2026) – Some of the diseases children face require highly specialized care.  And they should not have to leave North Carolina to get it. So new funds for NC Children’s – a $2-3 b...

publicedworks.org

UNC Charlotte’s botanical gardens offer monthly nature therapy walks that encourage people to slow down, connect with nature and reduce stress. Research suggests spending time outdoors can support mental health and well-being. #NCed

UNC Charlotte’s monthly nature therapy walk offers an opportunity to connect with the outdoors

A nature meetup at UNC Charlotte’s botanical gardens is teaching visitors that it’s less about the destination and more about slowing down and taking in the world around them.

wfae.org

UNC Pembroke’s REACH program is helping students turn research into graduate school opportunities, internships and careers. Fellows study history, culture and community stories while gaining hands-on research experience. #NCed

Faculty at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say the university is falling behind peer schools in pay. A faculty analysis found average salaries were about 27% lower than comparable institutions, raising concerns about recruiting and retaining top professors. #NCed

UNC-Chapel Hill falling further behind peer schools in faculty salary pay

UNC-Chapel Hill has been lagging behind peer universities for years in how much it pays faculty. Some professors are warning that the large pay gaps are impacting recruitment and retention.

wunc.org

NC A&T is launching a Ph.D. in bioengineering, becoming the first HBCU to offer a standalone doctoral program in the field. The program will support advanced research and help the university pursue R1 research status by 2028. #NCed

N.C. A&T to launch bioengineering doctoral program

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will become the first HBCU to offer a standalone Ph.D. in bioengineering.

wfdd.org

A new report found North Carolina teacher colleges have greatly improved reading instruction training. Most now follow the Science of Reading, helping better prepare future teachers to improve student literacy. #NCed

Teaching kids to read: NC's teacher colleges are turning around low marks, report finds

The improvement for teachers' colleges is just one of many components needed to turn the state's and the nation's fortunes around after years of declining reading scores.

wral.com

Wake County schools and Wake Tech are launching a new apprenticeship program that lets high school juniors and seniors earn free college credit, gain hands-on training in skilled trades, and receive pay. Funded by a $4 million grant, the program will begin with 60 students in 2027. #NCed

High schoolers start college for free in new Wake program — and get paid, too

Wake Tech president calls it “a powerful new model that allows students to begin building meaningful careers while still in high school.”

newsobserver.com