Suzanne Miller of North Carolina Families for School Testing Reform discusses the impact of  excessive testing and how the state can making testing fairer and more fruitful for students.

As the federal government gets back on track, Patrick McHugh, Senior Public Policy Analyst with the NC Budget & Tax Center, discusses lessons learned from the longest government shutdown in our history.

Keith Poston of the Public School Forum discusses the erosion of North Carolina’s commitment to public school and the Top 10 Education Issues for 2019.

Same-sex couples in North Carolina won the freedom to marry in 2014, but LGBTQ people continue to be denied equal protection under the law in many other areas of life. North Carolina is currently the only state in the nation that prevents those in same-sex relationships from accessing protective orders for domestic violence. The ACLU of North Carolina is challenging that unequal policy in court on behalf of a survivor of domestic violence who was denied a protective order because the person who made violent threats against her was a woman. ACLU legal director Chris Brook discusses the need to end discrimination in NC’s domestic violence law, and the latest on the continuing cost of HB2/HB142.

SAS CEO, Dr. Jim Goodnight, and North Carolina business leaders recently released a new report with recommendations on North Carolina’s funding structure for NC Pre-K to support the program’s expansion. The report is authored by National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Susan Gates, Special Advisor on Education for SAS, discusses the research that confirms high-quality early learning programs increase academic proficiency, graduation rates, post-secondary education enrollment, and skills needed in our global economy.

NC Housing Coalition Executive Director Samuel Gunter discusses rising eviction rates and energy costs as well as the impact of the federal government shutdown.

NC Justice Center Executive Director Rick Glazier reflects on the developments at UNC, the departure of Chancellor Folt and looks ahead to the 2019 legislative session.

Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling discusses the 2020 election campaign and how the numbers are shaping up for the candidates for President, Senate, and Governor.

Matt Ellinwood, director of the Education & Law Project of the NC Justice Center, discusses the upcoming legislative session, a multi-billion dollar school bond initiative, and why early childhood literacy rates continue to suffer due to a lack of resources.