ON SALE NOW: A $20 donation to a Goldsboro middle school will get a student 20 test points — 10 extra points on two tests of the student's choosing. That could raise a B to an A, or a failing grade to a D. The fundraiser has troubled state school official and some parents. (N&O)

DETAILS NEEDED: U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who represents a key vote on whether the Democratic health care reform bill moves ahead, said she wants to see details of a bill before she'll commit. Hagan, a Greensboro Democrat, said that she remains firm on three main points of health reform: that health coverage be affordable and accessible, that a reform bill not increase the federal deficit and that insurance companies are barred from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. (N&O)

NO SHERIFF TAYLOR: Lincoln County has asked a judge to remove its sheriff, who has been indicted on felony charges related to covering up a fixed drunken driving investigation. (Charlotte Observer)

State Board of Education chairman Bill Harrison said the education agency didn't mean to make it hard for former students who failed competency tests to get diplomas, or for schools to give them out. 

The state Department of Public Instruction told school districts to find former students, going to those who could have graduated as far back as 1981 but didn't, and tell them they can get diplomas if they met credit requirements but didn't pass competency tests. 

It's likely that most of those students would have received certificates in place of diplomas, and Harrison said Monday that DPI meant only for students to present certificates and have the school or local district swap them for diplomas. 

Students don't need to find their old transcripts, Harrison said. 

This despite instructions in a sample letter to students posted on the state public schools' web site that say:

"You will need a copy of your high school transcript that shows that you earned credit in all courses required for graduation at the time that your diploma was withheld."

Harrison said he hadn't seen the sample letter, and if it was there, it would come off the web site. 

"I don't know how many students would have kept their transcripts after 20 years," he said. "I didn't."

They're taking the heat for something they say they didn't do.

An online commentary published by a Washington, D.C. think tank essentially calls the legislature a bunch of dunces because some adults who left school nearly three decades ago without high school diplomas will be able to get them now.

Only problem: legislators say that's not what they want, and that the state Department of Education has misinterpreted a new law.

The commentary was reprinted in the Friday Report, an online newsletter published by the Public School Forum of North Carolina, a Raleigh-based education think tank. 

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Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning doesn't think much of nonsensical school labels. 

Manning, who is overseeing the state's response to the Leandro education lawsuit, heard reports from education officials on funding and efforts to improve schools with lots of failing students. 

Under the state system, failing schools that are labeled "low performing" get extra help from the state to improve. But the state has schools where 60 percent or more students fail standardized tests yet escape the "low performing" tag. That's because student performance at those schools improves enough from one year to the next so that the schools show student growth.

 "It's still a fraud," said Manning. "It's still an educational escape from reality."

Manning said the schools know how to take students who barely fail one year and get their performance up enough to pass their tests the next year. A few students' scores improve, he said, but the school as a whole is no better off. 

He said the schools "hide behind the, quote, growth joke situation."

 The hearing continues today.

Employees with the state Department of Public Instruction have lived under a gift ban for more then 20 years.

Department employees, State Board of Education members, and members of its committees are not allowed to take meals, gifts, or trips from companies that would provide equipment, books, or services to the state education agency or local school boards.

The state board adopted the standards of conduct first in 1988 and modified it in 1998.

The policy says board members and those in its orbit cannot "solicit or accept, directly or indirectly, meals, travel, lodging, any other items of value, any favor or reward, or any promise of favor or reward from any person, group, association, organization or corporation" that has a contract for services or materials, would be expected to seek a contract or financial relationship with DPI or local school boards, or is subject to DPI regulation or control.

Employees and board members can take free trips and meals if they're connected to education meetings and seminars sponsored by public agencies and associations.

North Carolina is keen on getting a piece of the $4 billion the federal government will give states that show that they are interested in school innovations that improve education.

The grant, a program called "Race to the Top" represents "an incredible opportunity, especially in these economic times," Bill Harrison, chairman of the State Board of Education, said Monday.

About 150 people, including state Department of Public Instruction staff, academics from the universities, representatives from Gov. Beverly Perdue's office, foundations, nonprofits, professional organizations, and local school districts have done some work getting the state ready to apply for the money, Lynn Bonner reports.

With all the interest, the state board will consider changing a policy on teacher evaluations that could kick North Carolina out of the running.

The state board will talk today about altering or rescinding a policy prohibiting local school districts from using a measure of teacher effectiveness in their evaluations.
According to the grant eligibility requirements, states cannot prohibit linking information on student achievement or student growth to teacher or principals' evaluations.

Another state law, the one capping public charters at 100 schools, could hurt the state's chances.

Federal Education Secretary Arne Duncan has repeatedly said that states with limits on charter schools will be at a "competitive disadvantage" when it comes to getting money.

House and Senate Republicans made raising the charter cap a priority in this year's legislative session. A bill to raise the cap stalled in the Senate.

More after the jump.

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Twenty-six people at the state Department of Public Instruction lost their jobs as a result of state budget cuts.

The budget required the state education department to drop 64 state-paid jobs to save about $4.6 million. In addition to the 26 layoffs, 15 workers moved to positions paid by other sources, said DPI spokeswoman Vanessa Jeter. The rest of the positions were vacant, Lynn Bonner reports.

Several state agencies were forced to shed positions in the budget adopted by lawmakers earlier this month. In many cases, those positions were vacant. Senior budget offficials said the number of people who lose their jobs could reach 700 or so.

Update: Post clarifies that 26 people were laid off and another 15 were moved to positions funded by other sources.  

June Atkinson fought in court to get the right to run the state school system.

And on the first day of work after winning her case, Atkinson was at a conference out of state.

Atkinson was attending the summer institute of the Council of Chief State School Officers in Broomfield, Colo. It's probably as good a place as any for someone who is now in charge of the state school system to pick up a few last-minute tips.

Earlier Monday, Atkinson sent an e-mail message to Department of Public Instruction employees.

NCDPI Colleagues,

Judge Hobgood's ruling on Friday brings clarity to the issue regarding the constitutional authority of the State Superintendent. It is the State Superintendent's role to carry out State Board of Education policies and state law by managing and supervising DPI staff and it is the State Board's role to make education policy. I have great respect for the State Board and will honor its role as being the policy making entity for public education.

While the past few months have been awkward, my commitment to leadership and service has never wavered. I am sure that Dr. Harrison, as SBE Chair, and I will continue to work together for the benefit of all students. I value your expertise and ask for your support as we move forward.

June

Senate majority leader Tony Rand said he expects lawmakers will react this session to a judge's ruling reshaping the way the state runs its schools.

Judge Robert Hobgood ruled today that June Atkinson, the state superintendent of public instruction, has the constitutional authority to run the state's schools and not William Harrison, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue appointed to run the state Department of Public Instruction and chair the State Board of Education.

Rand, a Fayetteville Democrat, said he believed there would be "significant" appetite in the legislature to ensure the governor can appoint the head of the state school system.

"The convoluted system we have now doesn't appear to me to be in the interest of educational progress in North Carolina," Rand said. "This has been a continuous pain for a significant time."

Hobgood said Friday he believed it would take a constitutional amendment to grant the governor that power. Rand said he would have to take a look.

Update: Gov. Beverly Perdue released a statement about the ruling. "I am reviewing the court’s ruling. I look forward to continuing to work with Dr. Harrison and Superintendent Atkinson to achieve our goal of providing a quality education for North Carolina’s children."

Most state agencies fall far short in providing taxpayers with access to information about their work, according to a new survey of transparency in government.

The John Locke Foundation this week unveiled nctranparency.com, an ongoing look at how state and local agencies in terms of making information available to the public.

Most of the 22 state agencies that were graded on the site were given a "D" or an "F". The state Department of Public Instruction earned the highest grade - a "C."

The foundation graded agencies on information that they make readily available online. Joseph Coletti, a fiscal analyst for the foundation, said in a release that grades were weighted to "reflect access to the most important information." Budget information, for example, was given greater weight.

DPI earned the highest grade among state agencies by making available its budget, contracts, the salaries of employees by job code, the salaries of top employees, and other information.

The Office of State Auditor, the state community college system, the Office of the State Controller and others received an "F" because they do not make much of that and other information available online, according to the site.