From gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to Superintendent of Public Instruction hopeful Michele Morrow, some Republicans running for office have suggested North Carolina could reject federal funding for public schools.

The idea is raising red flags for parents and teachers alike. The North Carolina Justice Center estimates turning down federal funding could strip more than $1 billion from schools and result in thousands of job losses.

Justin Parmenter, a teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, thinks it would harm vulnerable student populations and strain already underfunded schools, especially in rural areas.

"Things like providing free and reduced (price) lunch for students who need that support," Parmenter outlined. "It would be serving students with special needs. It would be funding programs like substance abuse and mental health care."

Those who would turn down federal funding said it comes with "strings attached" or requirements they do not agree with. But Parmenter countered he has heard no clear plans on how to offset the nearly $1.7 billion shortfall it would create. He stressed a lack of a concrete strategy raises serious concerns about deeper cuts to public education.

Claire Kempner is a parent of three public school students voicing similar concerns, particularly about how cuts would affect rural areas and the quality of education. She worries about teacher retention in the face of low pay.

"We have a really hard time retaining teachers, especially in more rural areas of the state, like where I live," Kempner explained. "Teachers are not paid well enough, where they can live off of their salary. They're going to go to other areas or they may even leave the state completely."

The North Carolina Justice Center reported rejecting federal funds for North Carolina schools would lead to wider gaps in racial and economic opportunities.


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Mixed responses continue to swirl about the new federal law offering tax incentives to people who donate to organizations providing scholarships to private K-12 schools.

School choice proponents are calling the Educational Choice for Children Act a win for all students, while opponents said the program will only benefit wealthy families. Starting in 2027, people who donate up to $1,700 to organizations offering K-12 scholarships will be 100% reimbursed through federal tax credits.

Brian Jodice, national press secretary for the American Federation for Children, emphasizes it is not a voucher program but rather a donor-driven initiative to provide families with more schooling options.

"It doesn't impact state budgets. It doesn't impact the federal budget," Jodice pointed out. "It allows people to donate to these scholarship granting organizations and get a tax credit, so (it) incentivizes the donors to go do that, which we think is a good thing. But then it also incentivizes families to be able to go apply for it and let their students benefit from it."

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said more than 138 million people nationwide could be eligible for the tax credit. It predicted about 43% will participate which would cost the federal government more than $100 billion per year. States must opt in to participate.

Illinois recently failed to extend its tax credit scholarship program for low-income families. Opponents argued the scholarships would benefit those who are already in private schools rather than providing an opportunity for lower-income families to switch from public to private school. In Chicago, families who make up to about $225,000 could apply to receive scholarships.

Maura McInerney, legal director at the Education Law Center, said the program is a tax shelter, benefiting the wealthy at the expense of the poor and public schools.

"We've seen this occur in other states and there's no accountability for these dollars and how they're spent," McInerney emphasized. "The only criterion for receiving a voucher is actually a high family income limit. So essentially this money will potentially benefit students who are already in private schools."

She added the program opens the door to discrimination since there is no oversight on what qualifications scholarship-granting organizations can impose on applicants. The program also does not have a cap, which McInerney said makes it especially concerning.

Federal law said the governor or a designated agency will decide if a state participates in the program. So far, Gov. JB Pritzker has called the new federal budget a setback for students across the nation which will increase barriers to success.


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Uncertainty about the current job market is influencing high school graduates' choices for a career.

Parents are generally the go-to for guidance, but a new poll suggests they have limited knowledge of post-high school educational options such as certification programs or apprenticeships.

The Indiana Department of Education reports that in 2024, Indiana achieved its highest-ever state high school graduation rate, at nearly 91%.

Jeff Bulanda, vice president of the American Student Assistance Center for Career Navigation at the nonprofit Jobs for the Future, said too often, family conversations about post-graduation plans occur too late.

"Young people actually really trust and rely on their parents' guidance," said Bulanda. "Ninety percent of young people said they rely on their parents' guidance when it comes to education and careers."

The Gallup Panel findings revealed more than half of families know "a great deal" about working at a paid job or earning a bachelor's degree. And just over half of all parents reported they "frequently" have those conversations with their high-school-age child, rising to 65% among parents with high school seniors.

Experts note without early and well-informed discussions, students are often forced to make life-shaping decisions on their own.

Working parents' schedules and not enough high school guidance counselors nationwide can add to students feeling unprepared.

Bulanda added that Jobs for the Future is working to build an online navigation tool to steer students to potential career pathways that align with their interests and inform graduates entering the workforce about the right questions to ask.

"Does this employer offer tuition assistance or some form of education benefit," said Bulanda, "where they may start in a front-line job but have the ability to earn money, as well as have their employer pay for their education?"

Bulanda stressed that today, fewer than three in 10 high schoolers say they feel very prepared to pursue postsecondary options.

He emphasized that the key is to take a step back and consider all potential funding sources at the state and local level, where short-term training program grants often help move students into in-demand careers.

The Indiana Department of Education reports almost 250,000 students enrolled in Indiana's colleges and universities for the Fall 2024 academic year.

Support for this reporting was provided by Lumina Foundation.

School funding is ranked as the top education priority in a spring survey of 850 Marion County voters by the education organization RISE Indy.

With 73% of Indianapolis' public school students in grades 3-8 reading below grade level, respondents indicated they want stronger schools and believe policymakers are the gatekeepers for improvement. RISE Indy specializes in closing the academic achievement gap for historically marginalized communities.

Jasmine Jackson, chief of staff for the group, said a child's access to a good school should not be determined by income, networking or their ability to get to a "certain" school.

"The political work allows us to support education champions and keep them honest and accountable," Jackson explained. "Our policy work allows us to work with elected officials to promote kids. And our programmatic work allows us to train them through literacy, through board governance."

U.S. News and World Report said almost 38% of students in Indianapolis public schools are Black, slightly more than 36% are Hispanic and 21% are white.

Among survey respondents, 33% ranked school transportation as a top priority. Parents want the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, a group created by the Indiana General Assembly to manage public education, to also address transportation challenges.

Jackson believes not just access but school choice should not sway the alliance's decisions.

"Voters desire one system that addresses transportation for all Indianapolis students, regardless of whether they're in IPs or public charter schools," Jackson emphasized. "We need a combined transportation system that is efficient, safe, students are not on the bus for over an hour one way to school."

According to the poll, 83% of respondents support a combined transportation system to streamline operations, reduce costs and improve service reliability. The Indianapolis Public Schools website indicates its school buses cover approximately 20,000 miles per school year.


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