State superintendent Coverage

Speaker Moore says he'll vote for GOP Superintendent nominee Morrow, but says her social media posts are 'not appropriate'

He said he doesn't support her comments -- which have included calling for the execution of several prominent Democrats and public figures -- but plans to support all Republican candidates.

WRAL staff

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Searching for the soul of public education

Thursday, March 28, 2024 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Controversy over GOP nominee's tweets calling for Democratic executions

North Carolina Democrats are attempting to capitalize on the national spotlight on the Republican nominee for state superintendent, Michele Morrow, who has come under scrutiny for her conspiracy theories and calls to execute prominent Democrats.

NC Democrats try to use spotlight against GOP superintendent nominee

North Carolina Democrats are attempting to capitalize on the national spotlight on the Republican nominee for state superintendent, Michele Morrow, who has come under scrutiny for her conspiracy theories and calls to execute prominent Democrats.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Editorial: Two views of 2024 campaign in N.C. Feuding Democrats or return to Jim Crow era?

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 -- The next seven months are shaping up to be a rearview, 126-year-old reflection of politics in an era of intolerance and prejudice. Will North Carolina voters in 2024 make different choices than voters did in 1898?

Editorial: Stop playing politics. Truitt must stand with Leandro and quality education for all

Friday, March 15, 2024 -- It is easy to be reflexively partisan and serve up stale talking points. Catherine Truitt has an opportunity to take a nobler course - standing for what is right and doing the hard work to provide public schools that truly deliver a quality education for every child.

GOP nominee to run North Carolina public schools called for violence against Democrats, including executing Obama and Biden

(CNN) -- The Republican nominee for superintendent overseeing North Carolina's public schools and its $11 billion budget has a history marked by extreme and controversial comments, including sharing baseless conspiracy theories and frequent calls for the execution of prominent Democrats.

By Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck, CNN

NC voters split on Green and Morrow in state superintendent race

Republican Michele Morrow and Democrat Mo Green are in a statistical dead heat in the race to oversee North Carolina's public schools, according to a WRAL News Poll released Monday.

By Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

How conservative activist Michele Morrow pulled off a major upset in her quest to run NC public schools

Michele Morrow managed to beat incumbent state Superintendent Catherine Truitt in Tuesday's GOP primary election.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

Conservative activist defeats incumbent NC schools superintendent

A candidate who has called public schools "indoctrination centers," urged people not to send their children defeated the incumbent Tuesday in the GOP primary to run the state's public schools.

NC education leaders want to change how schools are graded. Here's what that would look like

State Superintendent Catherine Truitt and other Department of Public Instruction leaders say the state's current school accountability system is broken. They proposed to lawmakers Monday a new way of grading schools.

Emily Walkenhorst, WRAL education reporter

State superintendent proposing new way to grade your child's school

If you're looking to move to a new area, you'll likely be comparing school grades. Right now, school's performance grades only tell you about test scores -- but the state superintendent wants to take more factors into account.

Charter schools' funding would hinge on state board's financial review under new policy

The board lost its authority to approve or deny charter school applications this summer.

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

Durham students push state leaders for safer schools

Students from Hillside High School met with North Carolina State Superintendent Cathy Truitt to discuss school safety and gun violence in schools

NC bill to make State Board of Education elected -- not appointed -- passes committee

Members favoring it cast an elected board as more democratic than the current system, while those opposing it questioned whether it would expose the state's education system to even greater political influence.

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: 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.

Next state-superintendent shares COVID plans

Education leadership at the state level is changing hands after the election -- and that means new leadership through the pandemic.

Schools superintendent: This is a multi-week, maybe multi-month event

State Superintendent Mark Johnson is expected to provide insights into how teachers will handle remote education, on Friday afternoon.

Nia Harden, WRAL reporter

NC superintendent wants to 'remove Common Core,' plans to survey educators and parents

North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson said Thursday he wants to remove Common Core academic standards from public schools and plans to survey educators and parents about the topic.

State board considers policy changes after NC superintendent signs 'emergency contract' worth $928,000

The State Board of Education is considering changes to how it approves contracts after North Carolina Superintendent Mark Johnson signed a $928,000 late-night contract last month without the board's knowledge.

NC education agency investigating claim that former staffer's texts were illegally monitored

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is investigating a claim that someone illegally monitored a former employee's personal text messages using her old work laptop, which was still connected to her phone after she retired.

Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter

Education staffer: NC superintendent's participation in reading contract process was odd

Day two of a hearing about which company should have been awarded a contract to test North Carolina public schools' youngest students began with testimony from a state education staffer who helped review the vendors competing for the multi-million dollar contract.

Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter

NC superintendent responds after state IT chief threatens to cancel his 'emergency' Istation contract

State Superintendent Mark Johnson sent a six-page letter to the state's IT chief Tuesday defending his decision to sign a late-night "emergency" contract worth $928,570 to keep a controversial reading program in schools.

Kelly Hinchcliffe, WRAL education reporter