In Context

WakeEd’s In Context newsletter is a monthly deep-dive into education issues impacting the Wake County Public School System.

Report: Teachers have the greatest impact on inspiring students to pursue STEM careers

There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about exposing more K-12 students, especially girls and minorities, to STEM career fields. These fields are particularly male dominated, and they are among some of the highest-paying professions lately. However, the barriers...

Several plans emerge to pay for statewide school construction and renovation

Mar 21, 2019

With four competing proposals, it is very likely North Carolina will have a plan for school construction by the end of this year’s legislative session. How it will be funded and how much Wake County might receive when everything is final is anybody’s guess at this...

It’s Time for a Productive Conversation About Honoring Educator Professionalism

Feb 18, 2019

Regardless of the profession and above all else, employees want to feel respected and valued. How that respect and value is measured differs across the industry spectrum, but some common themes occur in all areas such as meaningful and productive work, adequate...

Slowing Enrollment Growth Emerges as Opportunity for WCPSS

Jan 17, 2019

A national trend has caught up with Wake County Public School System that has caused district leaders to change the way they think about the future.The U.S. birth rate has declined in recent years, and it hit a 30-year low in 2017, according to a report released on...

Funding is Key to Achieving Success for Public Schools in 2019

Dec 19, 2018

Looking back over 2018, it was a good year for advancing good public education policies. Teachers received another raise, a compromise was reached which will reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade, and most importantly Wake County voters overwhelmingly...

WakeEd Urges Voters to Support the WCPSS Bond Referendum on Nov. 6

Oct 26, 2018

The schools will be built no matter what. The schools will be built If the bond referendum passes, and taxes will go up if the bond referendum passes. The schools will be built If the bond referendum fails, but taxes will go up even higher if the bond referendum...

Three Ways to Improve North Carolina School Report Cards

Sep 24, 2018

The recent release of the North Carolina public school performance report cards is a timely reminder that school grading is here to stay, so our state has a responsibility to make sure the formula is adequate and the grading system is equitable. North Carolina’s...

Law of Averages: There Are Better Ways to Measure Teacher Salaries Than State or National Averages

Aug 22, 2018

With the election season on the doorstep, it is reasonable to think that public school funding will be among the top issues raised at candidate forums, and specifically teacher pay will be one issue that is likely to receive the lion’s share of attention. Teacher pay...

Class Size Relief is Welcome, But Tough Choices Still Loom

Feb 14, 2018

The class size reduction compromise passed by the General Assembly this week is a mixed bag for local school districts. Among the positive outcomes are a multi-year approach to reducing class sizes, adding funding for program enhancement teachers, and eliminating the waiting list for pre-kindergarten classes.

Wallace Foundation Grant Helps WCPSS Cultivate New School Leader Development Continuum

Jan 16, 2018

Imagine and organization with more than 20,000 employees and 183 locations of varying size. Each of those locations requires a general manager, a small team of assistant managers, and leaders among the rank-and-file. In addition, each location is rated annually based...

Public School Choice Can Be Found in WCPSS Magnet Schools

Nov 20, 2017

Parents in Wake County have a wealth of options for public school choice within the Wake County Public School System through the magnet school program that has been a cornerstone of the school system for more than 35 years. WCPSS has over 50 magnet schools across its...

Open Source Curriculum Shows Promise for WCPSS

Sep 12, 2017

Of the many changes that occurred with the shift to teaching Common Core State Standards perhaps the most noticeable to students, parents, and teachers alike was the move away from using textbooks in English Language Arts and Mathematics. It wasn’t by design that...

Moving to A Weighted Student Formula for Public School Funding Makes Sense

Aug 15, 2017

North Carolina is at an important crossroads in how it pays for its K-12 public schools, and dramatic change may be on the horizon. The 2017-19 state budget that was signed into law last month created a special legislative committee, known as the Joint Legislative...