RALEIGH (October 15, 2025) – Public Ed Works recently published the “Lessons Learned Series.”

It is a series of stories exploring how legislative decisions — both active and passive — over the years have shaped the current challenges facing public education in North Carolina.

You can view the series here. You can also download a PDF to share with your network here: Lessons Learned Series PDF

We believe this series is especially relevant to parents, policymakers, community leaders and  education advocates because:

•It goes beyond headlines, using data and historical context to trace how funding shortfalls, teacher attrition, voucher expansion and state tax policy have eroded classroom quality.

•It highlights levers in state policy and budget decisions that can be used to reverse the damage.

•It provides statements from experts that investing in public education is good for our children, communities and states.

Some of the topics addressed include:

•NC teacher pay falls to bottom of rankings  — How we’ve slipped over time despite rising costs. 

•Voucher expansion and public schools — Private schools may be fine for some, but we can’t invest in them without adequately funding public schools. 

•Spending per student among the lowest in the nation — NC places near the bottom in meaningful investment.

•Challenges recruiting and retaining teachers — How policy contributes to North Carolina losing teachers. 

•The impact of tax cuts and fiscal choices — How cuts in personal and corporate taxes have undermined investments in our public schools, and how North Carolina’s #1 rank in business may be short-lived if we fail to make those investments.

As someone deeply engaged in North Carolina’s future, we hope you will:

•Read the series and share it with your friends, family, colleagues, staff and constituents.

•Provide feedback — which topics would you like to see us explore next

•Reference it in your communications and work — whether in social media posts, emails, speeches, committee meetings or policymaking — so that decision-making is informed by context.

Thank you for your time and your continued commitment to public education in North Carolina. We believe stronger schools build stronger communities — and we’re honored to work alongside you in that effort.