Looking back: Top Weekly Insights of 2018

In 2018, the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research explored issues from class size to teacher housing to mental health and everything in between. Here’s a look back at some of the top Weekly Insights from last year.

You asked, we answered.

Our AskNC initiative is designed to put the public back in public policy. Readers can submit questions about North Carolina government, policy, and politics, and then we answer them. Our answers to two of your questions — one on the North Carolina Education Lottery and one on taxing military pensions — were our most read articles of the year.

In-depth research on teacher housing

In January, we published an in-depth look at the issue of affordable teacher housing and highlighted five North Carolina districts leading the way on addressing the issue.

Equity

In February, we announced the beginning of a three-year study of equity across North Carolina led by James Ford. In his first piece on the study, Ford writes: “There can be no excellence until there is equity. Creating inclusive and equitable schools better serves everyone, not just those on the margins.”

Building community

In May, we rode along with Principal Donnell Cannon and staff of North Edgecombe High School as they stopped at students houses along the bus ride home, introducing themselves and learning more about where their students come from.

Class size debate

After surveying over 2,000 North Carolina teachers on their thoughts about the K-3 class size debate, we published the results.

Thank you for reading. We look forward to bringing you more research in 2019.

Weekly Insight