Protecting Pre-Kindergarten
Gov. Bev Perdue has asked leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly to take a first step in implementing a court order regarding NC Pre-K.
The governor requested resources to enable 6,300 additional at-risk students to enroll in NC Pre-K starting in January 2012.
"Not only are we under a court order to provide NC Pre-K services to every at-risk child who applies, but we know that investing in early childhood education pays dividends," Gov. Perdue said. "NC Pre-K is a nationally-recognized academic prekindergarten program that benefits not just each individual child served, but the state’s education system as a whole. This is because when all students enter elementary school ready to learn, all children have a better chance to succeed in school and in life."
On July 18, 2011, North Carolina Superior Court Judge Howard Manning issued an order in which he said that "[t]he State of North Carolina shall not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to the North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program (NCPK)." The Judge also directed the state to “provide the quality services of the NCPK to any eligible four year old that applies." Judge Manning reaffirmed that ruling last month.
On Aug. 11, 2011, Gov. Perdue issued an Executive Order, which directed the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a plan for how to serve all eligible at-risk four year olds.
Gov. Perdue supports an incremental and fiscally responsible approach to complying with Judge Manning’s order.
"We can’t flip a switch," Gov. Perdue said. "We must implement Judge Manning’s order in a prudent, fiscally responsible way."
DHHS determined that North Carolina can serve an additional 6,300 children this year and still meet the high quality academic standards that Gov. Perdue and Judge Manning require. The increased enrollment would bring the total number of children served this year roughly back to the number served last school year.
Career and College: Ready, Set Go
"Every kid - no matter where he or she lives in NC - must graduate from high school with what it really takes to succeed in a career, in a two- or four-year college or in Technical training."
Governor Bev Perdue
Ready
Increase the number of students who can read, write and do math at the end of grade three
- Develop an Early Childhood Advisory Council to increase ways for all kids to come to school healthy and ready to learn: better prenatal care, healthy kids, Smart Start, More at 4, etc.
- Continue to invest in smaller class sizes in K-3 where research has proven students learn more and have fewer discipline problems.
- Implement Diagnostic Assessments using hand held technology that allow teachers to check where each child is with reading, writing and math basics throughout the year so they have a solid foundation for continued learning.
Set
Increase the number of students that perform at or above grade level
- Provide incentives to ensure there are Great teachers in every classroom especially in hard to staff schools and/or hard to staff content areas (Science and Math)
- Implement a Leadership Academy -schools need good leaders who know how to motivate teachers and students and data to make good decision
- Maintain high expectations, standards and strong accountability-
- Restructure the ABC's program to include diagnostic assessment, 21st Century skills and national assessments so we can see how our students compare to others across the nation and world
- Develop bonuses for schools that reward targeted increased student growth
- Adopt the Common Core national standards: PK-12, higher education, and business community agree on career and college skills -what all students need to know to graduate ready to work, go to college or vocational school
- Develop more international schools and learning partnerships with other countries for global awareness- especially with second languages - Students will need to compete, communicate, and collaborate globally
- Increase virtual learning opportunities so every child no matter where they live can reach his or her potential
- Put more technology into the hands of students and teachers to increase individualized learning options
- Increase the use of technology for providing professional development opportunities for teachers
- Implement the Student learning Conditions survey to find out how we need to change our classrooms and schools so kids learn and stay in school.
- Develop more Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives
- Expand the transformation model to partner with low performing schools, ie, Halfax
- Develop a P-20 longitudinal data system in order to provide comprehensive data and information on all students
Go
Increase the number of students taking college credit courses while in high school; graduating from high school; going to college; and completing a degree from community colleges, colleges and universities
- Put into place a Community College readiness initiative to include using Accuplacer, Compass, or other diagnostic type assessment to provide accelerated learning opportunities to make sure that students graduate with skills necessary to do community college work
- Develop enrichment initiatives to provide support for students who need support in English, writing and higher level math
- Implement a Graduation Coach model to support students in meeting graduation requirements
- Consolidate high school transitions courses or programs so that students have access to more college level or specific career and vocational courses while in high school
- Develop more college level specific career and vocational courses on line courses available to high school students.
Race to the Top
North Carolina has submitted its application for a second round of funding from the federal competitive grant program, Race to the Top, which encourages educational innovation and reform. Additional federal funds will help achieve the many of the goals laid out by Gov. Perdue's Career and College - Ready, Set, Go! agenda. Click the links below for North Carolina's application.
For more information visit www.dpi.state.nc.us/rttt/.
Second Round
Application 
First Round
Application Letter
Application
Letters of Support
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Recent Education Press Releases
Recent Education Stories
During the recent trip that the Governor and I took to Asia, I visited with students at two middle schools in Tokyo.
Congratulations to the Appalachian State University students whose work on a solar house was voted the "People's Choice" in the U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 Solar Decathlon.
Learn More, Learn Better, Learn Your Way
- eLearning Portal - a one-stop-shop for all North Carolina's online learning opportunities.
- NC Virtual Public School - no matter where a student calls home, with the click of a mouse, he or she has access to high quality courses and the power to manage their educational choices to advance their college and career options.
Other Resources
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