We’re also following a school bus filled with elementary students involved in a crash. Plus, there is a new non-stop international flight at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. Plus, there are new peeping charges against a man that police say was looking up a woman’s skirt at Target. Watch WRAL-TV at 7 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 7: We’re not finished with the rain yet! How long showers and lightning could linger overnight

Shortages of teachers, infrastructure and technology workers will hamper schools' ability to provide the best education, facilities and tools to children, Superintendent Robert Taylor said Thursday.

Higher employee pay will be key to running Wake schools smoothly, superintendent says

Wake County Public School System Superintendent Robert Taylor speaks to the League fo Women Voters of Wake County, April 18, 2024

More than 21% of North Carolina's four-year-olds enrolled in the state's pre-kindergarten programs during the 2022-2023 school year, up from the prior year but still below the state's pre-pandemic highs, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research.

North Carolina ranks 29th in public pre-K enrollment, new report shows

Durham County budget increases funding for pre-K students

Founded by the College Foundation, Inc., a NC Assist Loan is a low-interest financing option that bridges the gap to higher education, making up the difference between the price tag of college and the financial aid received. 

Most American students will need to take out loans in order to finance their higher education — NC Assist Loans were created to help. Founded by the College Foundation, Inc., these low-interest financing options bridge the gap to higher education, making up the difference between the price tag of college and the financial aid received.

In order to qualify for NC Assist Loans, students must be from North Carolina or attend an eligible school within the state. The program offers two types of loan options with competitive interest rates: the student loan, with a fixed interest rate of 5.75% and a parent loan option, with a fixed interest rate of 5.25%. While the goal of NC Assist is to help students secure as much federal aid as possible, the student and parent loans are affordable alternatives to most private loan options and some federal loan options on the market.

In addition to NC Assist, CFI also provides general information on grants, loans, and work-study programs available to students through the College Foundation of North Carolina.

Bridging the Gap to Higher Education