For thirty years, the Leandro v. North Carolina case served as the constitutional North Star for public education in our state, affirming that every child—regardless of their zip code—is entitled to a “sound basic education.” In April 2026, the conservative-majority North Carolina Supreme Court effectively extinguished that beacon, delivering a ruling that prioritized partisan ideology […]
It is the single most common defense used by proponents of school privatization: “But charter schools are public schools!” On the surface, the claim seems open and shut. Charter schools are funded by taxpayer dollars, they do not charge tuition, and they are legally prohibited from discriminating in admissions or being religious in their operations.
When proponents of the neoliberal education reform movement talk about public charter schools, they rely on a highly polished, market-driven vocabulary. They speak of “educational laboratories,” “competitive pressure,” and “liberating choice.” In theory, charter schools—which are publicly funded but privately operated by independent non-profit boards—are supposed to force traditional public school systems to “up their
The modern conservative push for “school choice” is often presented in a progressive wrapper. Proponents argue that taxpayer-funded private school vouchers are a ticket of liberation, allowing low-income minority students to escape underfunded public schools and attend prestigious private academies. But if you look at the cold, hard data coming out of Raleigh and Gaston
Who Funds Our Schools? A Primer on the Gaston County Budget Crisis In North Carolina, public school funding relies on a tripartite structure: federal, state, and local revenues. With federal emergency pandemic funds (ESSER) completely expiring, the survival of Gaston County Schools (GCS) rests entirely in the hands of two governing bodies: The North Carolina
Every year, millions of North Carolinians purchase scratch-offs or Powerball tickets, comforted by a ubiquitous state slogan: “Supporting Education.” When the North Carolina Education Lottery was established in 2005, it was sold to the public on a simple, comforting promise: net lottery proceeds would directly supplement public classrooms, giving our schools an extra financial boost
If you bought a home in Gaston County prior to 2023, you likely watched with a mix of shock and bemusement as local real estate values soared. A mandatory countywide property revaluation that took effect in 2023 revealed that real estate values had risen significantly. On paper, Gaston County had suddenly become a hotbed of
For decades, Gaston County Schools (GCS) stood as a quiet beacon of public sector efficiency and financial stewardship. As the second-largest employer in Gaston County—supporting a dedicated workforce of over 3,800 educators and support staff —the district consistently earned the highest marks for financial reporting. It regular received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in
My daughter thinks I’ve lost my mind. She’s one of those people who will tell you, flatly, that she’s against AI. Doesn’t trust it. Thinks it’s a threat to creativity, to jobs, to the planet. And honestly? She’s not wrong about any of that. I’ll get to that in a minute. But here’s the thing.
I was VERY late to the game with Amy Winehouse. My first time truly hearing anything from her was when I bought a small vinyl collection off Facebook marketplace back around 2020. My tastes were beginning to evolve to a point where I was enjoying female voices in music far more than I had previously
