President's Perspective
Mike Long is the President of PEFNC and shares his perspective from his 35-years as an educator with experience as a middle school teacher, an AP US History teacher, a high school principal and a Head of School.
Momentum for school choice is growing—let's keep it going
By Mike Long
I have said it before, and I will say it again: School choice is here to stay in North Carolina. A little bit louder for folks in the back? Sure.
School choice is here to stay in North Carolina.
Time for Congress to help low- and moderate-income families at private schools
By Mike Long
For North Carolina’s 1.8 million K-12 students, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented interruption of critical classroom instruction time, educational programs, and services. Many students have fallen behind or will not be prepared to advance to the next grade, and many families are struggling to cope with their school district’s reopening plan that does not include fully reopening. Our leaders face the challenging task of keeping students and teachers safe while recovering lost learning time and accommodating working parents.
Supreme Court Affirms School Choice, Tar Heel State Celebrates
By Mike Long
Tuesday, June 30th, was a great day for school choice across America, reverberating right here in North Carolina. In a 5-4 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Montana tax-credit scholarship program that helps students and their families gain equal access to the private school of their choice.
NC Values Voice: Live with Mike Long
By NC Values Voice
Join us this week for another episode of “The NC Values Voice”, a weekly 30-minute interview by Executive Director, Tami Fitzgerald, with a special guest. The NC Values Voice will be aired on Facebook Live every Wednesday night at 7:30pm. Our goal is to inform and motivate our statewide coalition members with current, relevant information.
Educational Equity and the Fight to End Systemic Racism
By Mike Long
My heart is broken by the senseless loss of life over the past few weeks and months in the tragic deaths of African-American men and women like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others.
One loss of life is too many.
I am a 59-year-old white man who has not experienced racism and inequality as some of my friends and peers have. While I cannot fully understand how they feel, I can listen, I can learn, and I can work with my community to make change.
Students attending schools of choice need support during the COVID-19 crisis, too
By Mike Long
As our state continues to move forward with pandemic relief and economic recovery, we must realize that North Carolinians are being impacted every day, including financial hardship for families.
A time to prioritize all makes and models
By Mike Long
On March 27, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law, which includes educational stabilization funds of more than $30 billion. According to initial figures released by the Congressional Research Office, North Carolina is eligible to receive around $857 million of those funds. Good news, to be certain, during these trying times.
Schools up to the challenges of closures
By Mike Long
We are in the middle of an unprecedented virtual learning experience in North Carolina, and quite frankly, beyond our state lines, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Here at home, our public schools are currently closed through May 15 and might be cancelled through the remainder of the school year. That means school, for the majority of our state’s students, might not officially start up again until late August.
Senator Sanders and Governor Cooper want to kill school choice for parents
By Mike Long
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, took time out of his busy schedule to pen an op-ed for The Fayetteville Observer attacking the freedom of North Carolinians to choose the best schools for their children.
In reading Senator Sanders’ piece, it appears that he is in perfect lockstep with our own Governor, Roy Cooper, who has championed the cause of ending school choice in North Carolina, calling the Opportunity Scholarship Program “an expense we should stop.”
Elections matter
By Mike Long
You have probably heard the phrase "Elections have consequences." If you want to see a tragic example of this, look no further than Pennsylvania.
During last night’s State of the Union address, we heard about Stephanie Davis and her daughter, Janiya, a 4th grade student who has suffered for years in low-performing traditional public schools in Philadelphia. As a hard-working single mother, Stephanie wanted something better for her daughter. So, she applied for Pennsylvania’s tax-credit scholarship program.