Catherine Truitt Coverage

Public schools advocates call on N.C. schools chief for more support

About 50 teachers, parents and retired educators gathered in Raleigh to urge state Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt to support public schools in North Carolina after what advocates say was a punishing year for public education.

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

Coaches for teachers shows promise in some NC schools, studies say

But getting coaches into every school would be a tall order, and one program ends after this year.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

NC superintendent touts state's 'unique' approach to post-pandemic learning recovery

North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt testified before Congress, touting the state's approach to post-pandemic learning recovery.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: N.C. education in the slow lane

Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Editorial: Truitt needs to stand WITH students and stand UP TO legislators

Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 -- North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt seems more concerned with appeasing the Republican partisans who rule the state legislature than making sure every school child has access to a quality public education and their schools and teachers have the resources needed to do it.

Truitt, DPI unveil 'Portrait of a Graduate,' 7 new goals for HS grads

The new goals align with pushes to measure students and schools by more than standardized tests.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

How should NC schools be graded? State superintendent is asking for input

Superintendent Catherine Truitt has repeatedly questioned whether the state's A-F grading system is truly fair.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Truitt proposes using COVID funds to help some NC principals facing $7,200 to $18,000 pay cuts

The North Carolina State Board of Education will vote next week on whether to use $4.5 million in federal pandemic relief dollars to compensate principals who may lose thousands of dollars this year in typical pay because of a law change.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Superintendent announces 48 members of NC schools parent advisory commission

The commission isn't the only one reporting to Truitt, but Truitt said she wanted to form this commission to increase parent engagement in schools.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Editorial: Truitt must focus on quality N.C. schools, not hot-button college sports issues

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 -- What could be more important to talk about, to take a stand on, then making sure there are top-notch teachers in every classroom and quality resources and facilities for every student?

Editorial: What to do about NC's education future? Implement Leandro plan

Friday, March 4, 2022 -- A legislative committee has embarked on defining what public education in North Carolina means and what it should produce. That committee's work has been done and its mission should be changed. If anyone needs to know what public education is about, what needs to be done to fulfill its mission and what it should produce, they need look no further than hard work and laudable cooperative efforts of the plaintiffs, defendants and judges over the last quarter-century to achieve agreement in the landmark Leandro court decision.

Want to give more input on NC education? Parent advisory council applications now open

School districts often have their own advisory committees of teachers, principals, parents or other community members. But until now, the state hasn't had one for parents.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

NC leaders float more workforce training for high schoolers

NC Superintendent Catherine Truitt also says she wants to revamp the state's school accountability model to include career and college prep.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Editorial: Nameless bureaucrats aren't N.C. public schools' problem, it is legislative neglect

Friday, Dec. 24, 2021 -- It does take a lot of money to address the decades of neglect that North Carolina's public schools - its teachers and students - have suffered. The Leandro plaintiffs and defendants came up with a comprehensive plan to deliver a sound basic education for children in North Carolina public schools. It is no broad-brush solution but a highly detailed program that pinpoints specific areas of need throughout the public education process to help make teachers more effective and provide students with resources and support services so they'll be better learners.

Editorial: Obey the judge. Fund our schools or lose in court

Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 -- Rather than look for ways to build a top-quality public education system for all of North Carolina's children legislative leaders are engaged in a cynical strategy to enrage and divide. One way or another, Judge David Lee's order will bring a stop to that behavior.

Editorial: Leandro plan will lift all N.C. schools; legislative leaders offer uncertainty

Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 -- Senate Leader Phil Berger, House Speaker Tim Moore and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt, have been silent, dismissive and even insulting in their responses to the action plan and the judge's order to assure that all North Carolina children have the opportunity to receive a sound basic education.

MARY ANN WOLF: School boards and local school leaders are threatened as they work to keep children safe. It must stop

Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 -- In recent months across our state we are seeing behavior before, during, and after school board meetings -- in person and in writing -- that we would not accept from our students, our family members or our neighbors. School board members and superintendents fear for their safety. How is this OK when we consider the service that they provide to our students, our districts, and our communities?

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Finding N.C. education's North Star

Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Editorial: Truitt's schools plan must embrace Leandro remedial order not dodge it

Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt needs to choose. Is she going to stand with the partisan politicians who neglect public schools and those who work for them? OR Is she going to take a strong and courageous stand in support of implementing the 7-year remedial plan that the court has adopted? That is that plan that should be the map, the guiding light, of any program "navigating students toward a brighter future."

NC superintendent calls for more broadband Internet, changes to teacher compensation

The plan in part reflects inequities and challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic; it harnesses the resources of a the new Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration, created this year to address learning disruptions caused by the pandemic.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

NC school superintendent supports making mask decisions locally

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt praises the decision to end the statewide mask mandate in schools.

Teachers eager to help with summer school, NC superintendent says

Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt says summer school will be critical to helping students get back on track after a year when most of the learning was done at home during the pandemic.

Editorial: Transition to electric school buses to ease panic at N.C. pumps

Thursday, May 20, 2021 -- Rather than waiting for the next crisis or panic, Gov. Roy Cooper, Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt and state legislative leaders should be working with electric utilities, local school systems and others to transition state school bus fleets completely to electrified vehicles. Do this now, so that if, and when there is the next gasoline panic or pipeline disruption it won't stop kids from getting to school for their lessons, not to mention also saving taxpayers' money.

Editorial: Truitt should lead push to adopt Leandro quality education action plan

Tuesday, May 18, 2021 -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt needs to make it her mission to demand Gov. Roy Cooper champion with her, and push the General Assembly to adopt and fully fund the nonpartisan, consensus comprehensive remedial action plan that will fulfill our State Constitution's mandate to provide a quality education to every child.

Editorial: Politics, more than public schools and students, are Truitt's priority

Monday, May 17, 2021 -- Public school students, their parents and educators will have to look elsewhere to find someone who will listen and be their advocate.