VOLUME 7 ISSUE 51
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WWW.NSJONLINE.COM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2023
New DPI report ties teacher effectiveness to mitigation of pandemic learning loss By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A new white paper report from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s Office of Learning Recovery and Acceleration (OLR) links teacher and principal effectiveness to mitigation of pandemic learning loss. OLR’s report says that students scored better on the state’s endof-year tests during the 2020-21
school year if their teachers had in past years shown strong student outcomes. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Catherine Truitt said in a press release that the latest findings from the state’s learning loss data underscore the value of measuring teacher effectiveness and its impact on student achievement. “We know from our lost instructional time reporting that years of
experience are meaningful,” Truitt said, “but knowing if teachers are effective – measured by results with their students – is more meaningful. The findings from this report are important, as it gives us data that will be used to guide our work and guide decision-making as it impacts student success.” The report found students linked to teachers rated as effective See DPI, page A2
Nikki Haley says she is running for president Charleston, S.C. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, announced that she is running for president in 2024. She will deliver her announcement speech, on Wednesday, Feb. 15 in Charleston, S.C. In a video announcement unveiled Tuesday, Haley says, “It’s time for a new generation of leadership – to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride and our purpose.” NSJ STAFF
Stein won’t defend state in lawsuit Raleigh Attorney General Josh Stein won’t defend state law in yet another lawsuit, this time one regarding the dispensing of abortion pills being challenged by a Durham physician. The decision by Stein, a Democrat, means Republican legislative leaders who want to keep abortion restrictions consistent with state law would have to seek to formally intervene in the federal lawsuit filed in January in U.S. District Court. Stein, who supports abortion and is running for governor next year, is a defendant in the lawsuit along with a district attorney and state health and medical officials. Stein and state Department of Justice attorneys are tasked with defending state laws in court. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Budd introduces Build the Wall Now Act Washington, D.C. Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Budd has introduced his first bill since taking office in January, which would require the restart of border wall construction, remove all legal impediments to construction, and unlock $2.1 billion in unspent funding. Co-sponsors of the bill include fellow North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (RTX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), James Risch (R-ID), and Mike Rounds (R-SD). “President Biden has created the worst border crisis in American history. Instead of taking steps to solve this crisis, the Biden administration has tried to run out the regulatory clock on border wall construction. It’s time for a comprehensive solution to end the Biden Border Crisis, and this bill does just that,” said Budd in a statement Tuesday. NSJ STAFF
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The chamber of the North Carolina House of Representatives at the state legislative building in Raleigh.
Another Parents’ Bill of Rights may be filed in the NC House The Senate version of the bill now sits in a House committee By A.P. Dillon North State Journal AP PHOTO
Ariel Aviran, 7, in the arms of his father, receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from medical staff.
CDC add COVID-19 to childhood immunization schedule Will NC students have to get the shot to go to school? By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially added COVID-19 shots to the recommended childhood immunization schedule on Feb. 9. Last fall, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the CDC add the shots to the schedule for children ages 6 months up through 18 years old. Dr. Neil Murthy and Dr. A. Patricia Wodi authored the report recommending COVID-19 shots be added to the schedule. “This means COVID-19 vaccine is now presented as any other routinely recommended vaccine and is no longer presented in a special “call out” box as in previous years,” Dr. Neil Murthy and Dr. A. Patricia Wodi said in a statement. “This, in a sense, helps ‘normalize’ this vaccine and sends a powerful message to both healthcare providers and the general public that everyone
ages 6 months and older should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccines (including a booster, when eligible), just as they would with any other routinely recommended vaccine.” As for booster shots, the CDC directs the public to its guidance on booster dose vaccination. As new boosters are approved, the guidance will list which boosters are recommended and for what age groups. During a House Energy and Commerce Committee meeting on Feb. 8, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky was questioned by lawmakers about the shots. In response to a question from Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) about why the shots were added to the schedule for the population least vulnerable to the disease, Walensky said the only reason they did it was in order to pay for COVID-19 vaccines for certain children. “It was the only way it could be covered in our Vaccines for Children program,” Walensky told Crenshaw. “It was the only way our uninsured children would be able to have access to the vaccines. That was the reason to put See VACCINE, page A2
RALEIGH — In an interview with North State Journal on Monday, House Education Committee Chair Rep. John Torbett (R-Gaston) indicated that the House will have some additions to the Senate Bill 49, the Parent’s Bill of Rights. Senate Bill 49 seeks to increase transparency for parents in a number of areas such as the well-being of students and curriculum. It also bars teaching controversial gender ideology and sexuality topics in Kindergarten through fourth grade. Similar to last session’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, the bill appears to be in a time-out in a House committee, however, that may be because the House has designs on a bill of its own according to Torbett, who discussed some possible changes in its own version of the bill or may submit it as a companion bill the existing Senate version. One of the significant changes would be extending the prohibition on sexual topics and gender identity in the classroom through seventh grade when health education occurs as written in state statutes. In addition, tightening up the definitions of puberty education that is given as instruction often in fifth grade will be included. “Now, I am very much aware about folks concerned about letting kids know about puberty,” said Torbett. “I’m having staff draft some pretty tight language that defines what educating people about puberty actually is.” Torbett later went on to say “Someone’s really got to explain that to me or let me see the proof in the pudding about what will be taught. I’m asking for at least seventh grade.” The Gaston legislator also said the House version would include language about giving parents an
“opt-in” for puberty and sexual health instruction. “There are some organizations out there that would like to see none of that until high school,” said Torbett. “I don’t think I can get a bill passed that way, but what I think I can do is give the opt-in for parents also across the board.” Additional language in the realm of more transparency may also be in a House version. Torbett said parents should always be notified first and know exactly what’s going on with their child’s education. When asked about pushback from LGBT activists and House Democrats on the provisions in the Parents’ Bill of Rights, Torbett See PARENTS, page A2