(The Center Square) – Graduating 92% of high school students within four years is among seven goals in a five-year strategic plan adopted by the State Board of Education in North Carolina.
The board, in a release Thursday morning, said it “aims to position North Carolina’s public schools as the best in the United States by 2030.” Superintendent Mo Green, a first-term Democrat, sought input from educators, students, parents and community members in a listening tour.
North Carolina’s graduation rate is 86.9%. The state has about 1.5 million students in traditional, charter, lab and virtual public schools.
Other goals are a composite score of 20 for the ACT; 30% AP participation among sophomores, juniors and seniors; 41% career technical education participation among all K-12 students; 89% of school-aged children enrolled in public schools; lead the Southeast in educator compensation; and national leadership in the National Association for Educational Preparedness reading and math scores.
ACT composite scores are from the average of sections on English, math, reading and science. The acronym AP is advanced placement, a program offering college-level courses to high school students. The last goal refers to what is colloquially called the Nation’s Report Card.
The plan also includes what are called eight strategic pillars.
Those are to “prepare each student for their next phase in life; revere public school educators; enhance parent, caregiver and community support; ensure healthy, safe and secure learning environments; optimize operational excellence; lead transformative change; celebrate the excellence in public education; galvanize champions to fully invest in and support public education.”
A public launch is Aug. 20 at Centennial Campus Magnet School in Raleigh.
