Cohort 3: School Choice
The Issue at Hand
North Carolina has always prided itself on education, however, elementary and secondary education, which shapes and secures this state’s future, varies widely across the state. From the distribution of charter schools to adequate funding, leaders across the state hope to provide in a way that they can look towards a vibrant time ahead.
NCLF brought 39 leaders across the state to meet four times day-and-a-half meetings during 2019 at Duke University, in High Point, and in Wilmington. Participants included legislators, philanthropists, advocates, businesspeople, and more to discuss aspects of education including funding, choice, supply of teachers and students, and more.
North Carolina has always prided itself on education, however, elementary and secondary education, which shapes and secures this state’s future, varies widely across the state. From the distribution of charter schools to adequate funding, leaders across the state hope to provide in a way that they can look towards a vibrant time ahead.
NCLF brought 39 leaders across the state to meet four times day-and-a-half meetings during 2019 at Duke University, in High Point, and in Wilmington. Participants included legislators, philanthropists, advocates, businesspeople, and more to discuss aspects of education including funding, choice, supply of teachers and students, and more.
Cohort 3: School Choice Final Report
This report summarizes the proceedings and findings of the third year of NCLF. We explored the question, “What role should choice play in North Carolina elementary and secondary education, and what array of educational options should the state fund in order to provide a quality education for every child?”
After much discussion, the report notes concerns about funding, segregation, flexibility, and accountability, including background knowledge that was provided to participants and policy options that were raised. For each issue, there is also note of points that were overwhelmingly agreed upon, had divided opinions, and ones with no consensus.
The report ends with what we learned through the process; From 95% of participants saying they “formed a relationship with one or more people of differing views that likely would not have otherwise formed,” to NCLF outlining the nuance in administering this forum, there is substantial information for other forums, for North Carolinians, and for those interested in education.
Cohort 3: School Choice Final Report
This report summarizes the proceedings and findings of the third year of NCLF. We explored the question, “What role should choice play in North Carolina elementary and secondary education, and what array of educational options should the state fund in order to provide a quality education for every child?”
After much discussion, the report notes concerns about funding, segregation, flexibility, and accountability, including background knowledge that was provided to participants and policy options that were raised. For each issue, there is also note of points that were overwhelmingly agreed upon, had divided opinions, and ones with no consensus.
The report ends with what we learned through the process; From 95% of participants saying they “formed a relationship with one or more people of differing views that likely would not have otherwise formed,” to NCLF outlining the nuance in administering this forum, there is substantial information for other forums, for North Carolinians, and for those interested in education.
Participants from Cohort 3
Jim Anthony, Colliers International Raleigh
Deanna Ballard, NC Senate
Jonathan Barfield, Jr., New Hanover County Board of Commissioners
Lisa Stone Barnes, NC House of Representatives
Tamara Barringer*, UNC-CH Kenan-Flagler Business School;
Former NCGA Member
Anita Brown-Graham*, UNC School of Government
Ashton Clemmons, NC House of Representatives
Kit Cramer, Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
Paul Cuadros, UNC School of Media and Journalism
Jeffrey Elmore, NC House of Representatives
James Ford, North Carolina State Board of Education
Amy Scott Galey, Alamance County Board of Commissioners
Maurice “Mo” Green*, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation
Rita Haire, A.M. Haire Corporation
John Hood*, John William Pope Foundation
Ray Jeffers, Person County Board of Commissioners
Dale Jenkins, Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina
Simon Johnson, Quality Education Academy
Mike Long, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina
Tomas Lopez, Democracy NC
Chris Lowder, Superintendent of Cabarrus County Schools
Natasha Marcus, NC Senate
Ann McColl, The Innovation Project
Chuck Neely*, Williams Mullen, Former NCGA member
Kate Pett, Asheville City Schools Foundation
Rodney Pitts, Southern Elevator
Keith Poston, Public School Forum of North Carolina
Robert Reives*, NC House of Representatives
Cheryl Riley, Victory Christian Center School
Vickie Sawyer, NC Senate
Patrick Sims, The Hunt Institute
Erica Smith, NC Senate
Jule Smith, Fred Smith Company
Thomas Stith, The Michael Thomas Group
Terry Stoops, Vice President of Research and Director of Education
Studies, John Locke Foundation
Tammi Sutton, KIPP Eastern NC Public Schools
Thomas Vaidhyan, Aten Inc.
Jay Wagner, Mayor of High Point
Leslie Winner*, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation; Former NCGA member
Jim Anthony, Colliers International Raleigh
Deanna Ballard, NC Senate
Jonathan Barfield, Jr., New Hanover County
Board of Commissioners
Lisa Stone Barnes, NC House
of Representatives
Tamara Barringer*, UNC-CH Kenan-Flagler
Business School; Former NCGA Member
Anita Brown-Graham*, UNC School of
Government
Ashton Clemmons, NC House
of Representatives
Kit Cramer, Asheville Area Chamber
of Commerce
Paul Cuadros, UNC School of Media and
Journalism
Jeffrey Elmore, NC House of Representatives
James Ford, North Carolina State Board of
Education
Amy Scott Galey, Alamance County Board of
Commissioners
Maurice “Mo” Green*, Z. Smith Reynolds
Foundation
Rita Haire, A.M. Haire Corporation
John Hood*, John William Pope Foundation
Ray Jeffers, Person County Board
of Commissioners
Dale Jenkins, Medical Mutual Insurance
Company of North Carolina
Simon Johnson, Quality Education Academy
Mike Long, Parents for Educational
Freedom in North Carolina
Tomas Lopez, Democracy NC
Chris Lowder, Superintendent of Cabarrus
County Schools
Natasha Marcus, NC Senate
Ann McColl, The Innovation Project
Chuck Neely*, Williams Mullen, Former NCGA
member
Kate Pett, Asheville City Schools Foundation
Rodney Pitts, Southern Elevator
Keith Poston, Public School Forum of
North Carolina
Robert Reives*, NC House of Representatives
Cheryl Riley, Victory Christian Center School
Vickie Sawyer, NC Senate
Patrick Sims, The Hunt Institute
Erica Smith, NC Senate
Jule Smith, Fred Smith Company
Thomas Stith, The Michael Thomas Group
Terry Stoops, Vice President of Research
and Director of Education Studies,
John Locke Foundation
Tammi Sutton, KIPP Eastern NC Public Schools
Thomas Vaidhyan, Aten Inc.
Jay Wagner, Mayor of High Point
Leslie Winner*, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation;
Former NCGA member
*Denotes NCLF Steering Committee Member
Supplements
COVID-19 and K-12 Report
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NC Leadership Forum invited alumni from its 2019 education cohort to reunite via Zoom for two conversations about how NC was addressing challenges in K-12 education during COVID. These conversations are the first time NCLF has gathered alumni for follow-up. The online dialogues illustrated the long-term value of building a network in which leaders across North Carolina could brainstorm with and support each other, sharing very diverse perspectives on the impact of a crisis, and deliberating lessons learned that could be used to transform education in the future.
COVID-19 and K-12 Report
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NC Leadership Forum invited alumni from its 2019 education cohort to reunite via Zoom for two conversations about how NC was addressing challenges in K-12 education during COVID. These conversations are the first time NCLF has gathered alumni for follow-up. The online dialogues illustrated the long-term value of building a network in which leaders across North Carolina could brainstorm with and support each other, sharing very diverse perspectives on the impact of a crisis, and deliberating lessons learned that could be used to transform education in the future.
