Standing up for Quality Schools
Bev Perdue knows that North Carolina’s economic future is dependent upon our ability to educate our children well and provide a qualified workforce for potential employers. For decades, business leaders have cited our state’s long-standing commitment to quality schools, colleges and universities as a major factor in their decisions to move jobs to, and invest in, North Carolina.
Education has been a top priority for Perdue from the day she was elected. She personally chaired the meetings of North Carolina’s Education Cabinet, which coordinated efforts among all levels of public education in North Carolina until it was eliminated by the Republican-controlled legislature as part of their effort to cut education funding.
Despite ongoing legislative opposition, Perdue has continually fought to strengthen our schools. The federal government has recognized the Perdue Administration’s commitment to education by funding Governor Perdue’s strategic plan for education through the federal Race to the Top program. As a result, North Carolina will receive approximately $400 million for education reform initiatives.
During Perdue’s tenure as Governor, North Carolina’s graduation rate has risen from 71.8% to 77.9% and is now above the national average, according North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction.
In early 2011, Perdue fought to extend the one-cent temporary sales tax in order to prevent the half billion dollars in education cuts demanded by the Republican-controlled legislature. With the strong support of educators and business leaders throughout the state, she vetoed the legislature’s proposed budget, saying that it “would trade away our children’s future to save a penny.” But the legislature, with the support of Pat McCrory, overrode her veto, forcing school districts to lay-off teachers and colleges and universities to lay-off faculty.
So far, as a direct result of the legislature’s budget cuts, more than 6,300 positions have been eliminated in our public schools in 2011-2012 – including teachers, teacher assistants, assistant principals and other personnel. The impact was severe, but not as severe as it will be next year when one-time federal funds – which school districts are using to mitigate the damage – run out.
Similarly, the Republicans’ budget forced the University of North Carolina system to eliminate more than 3,000 filled positions in 2011-2012. Funding for early childhood education was also cut, reducing the number of children who could participate by 6,400. Funding for community colleges was also reduced.
Governor Perdue continues to seek out ways to lessen the damage from the budget cuts and strengthen North Carolina’s public schools, community colleges and universities.
