Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Opioid Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Opioid Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Public Education

Our Policy Statement on the Public Schools

Because the past decade has brought a new era of school segregation in North Carolina rivaling pre Civil Rights Act (1964) segregation rates and because the North Carolina Council of Churches has a long history of support for racial justice, we are recommitting to supporting a public school system that is built on racial equity and excellence for all students.

The Council also has a long history of support for public education. In 1986, we reaffirmed “our support for the system of public education in North Carolina… Being a system of our government financed by public funds, responsive to the community as a whole, and open to all without distinctions as to race, creed, national origin or economic status. Public education serves as a major cohesive force in our pluralistic society; and we believe that by training for citizenship, education serves as a primary means of strengthening our constitutional democracy. We believe that freedom of thought and learning in our public schools is the necessary precondition to political and religious freedom… Continue Reading

For more information on our Public Education program, contact us at info@ncchurches.org or 919-828-6501.

TIME SENSITIVE

Public Education Advocacy and Faith: Why the Church Should Care
Wednesday, September 16, 7-8:30 p.m.
Click here to register

We invite you to join us for an Evening Webinar on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 7:00 – 8:30 pm as we explore the calling our faith provides to support public education for all students in North Carolina. For over 20 years, public schools in NC have been dramatically underfunded. Our schools need all communities, especially churches, to advocate for the sound basic education the NC Constitution guarantees.

We are people of faith who value the lives of children as Jesus did. We hope in this time of listening and learning that we will be inspired, informed, educated, and motivated to become advocates for our children through support of public education. Click the image for registration details.

  • Resources
  • Legislative Updates
  • Factsheets
  • Our Partners
  • Take Action
  • Community Updates

Denominational Resources

  • Alliance of Baptists, Statement on Public Education
  • African Methodist Episcopal Church, The Church’s Role in Education
  • Episcopal Church, All Our Children
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Our Calling in Education
  • Presbyterian Church, Loving Our Neighbors: Equity and Quality in Public Education (K-12)
  • Religious Society of Friends, Friends and Education
  • United Church of Christ, Justice in Public Education
  • United Methodist Church, United Methodist Advocates for Public Schools (UMAPS)

Worship Resources

Sermons

  • Rev. Joe Brown: From the Church House to the State House (5/14/2013)

Other Faith-Based Resources

  • Journey to Lent, Journey to Learn (3/4/2011)
  • Celebrating a Public Education Sabbath (7/11/2005)

Raleigh Report Legislative Updates

  • ‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools (1/17/2020)
  • Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019 (4/29/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 22, 2019 (4/22/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 11, 2019 (4/11/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 5, 2019 (4/5/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – March 25, 2019 (3/25/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – March 11, 2019 (3/11/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – February 12, 2019 (2/12/2019)
  • Voter ID Follows Budget Bulldozer (6/11/2018)
  • Raleigh Report — May 30, 2018 (5/30/2018)
  • No More Mottos (5/25/2018)
  • Marching for Schools, and for Children (5/18/2018)
  • Doing the School-money Shuffle (4/30/2018)
  • School Districts: Keeping It Together (4/13/2018)
  • Public Schools’ Call to Quality – For All (4/2/2018)
  • Class Sizes and More: An Awkward Finale (2/15/2018)
  • Rights Advocacy At Risk (8/3/2017)
  • Doomed Veto Spotlights Budget Flaws (6/30/2017)
  • New Budget with Old Agenda Falls Short (6/22/2017)
  • GA’s Budget Proposals — Harmful not Helpful (6/12/2017)

Voices From the Council (Op-eds)

  • ‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools (1/17/2020)
  • Let Justice Roll: Sustain the Veto (7/2/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019 (4/29/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 22, 2019 (4/22/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 11, 2019 (4/11/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – April 5, 2019 (4/5/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – March 25, 2019 (3/25/2019)
  • A Prayer for Teachers (3/25/2019)
  • Raleigh Report – February 12, 2019 (2/12/2019)
  • Make a Way for the Children to Come (1/28/2019)
  • Vetting the Vote: Public Education (10/25/2018)
  • Honor Students and Teachers with a Public Education Sabbath (8/21/2018)
  • Council Calls for More Support for Public Education (6/22/2018)
  • Voter ID Follows Budget Bulldozer (6/11/2018)
  • Raleigh Report — May 30, 2018 (5/30/2018)
  • No More Mottos (5/25/2018)
  • And May We Be Changed (5/21/2018)
  • Council announces Faith Leaders for NC Children Initiative (5/19/2018)
  • Marching for Schools, and for Children (5/18/2018)
  • Because of Jesus (5/15/2018)

Data and Issues:

  • NC Council of Churches Statement on Public Education
  • NCAE Position Papers and Issue Briefs
  • NCAE Legislative Agenda 2017-2018
  • Public Schools First NC, Know the Issues
  • Public Schools First NC Fact Sheets
  • Public Schools First NC Important Research
  • Public Schools First NC Legislative Updates
  • Schools Our Students Deserve Advocacy
  • Publications of the NC Justice Center Education and Law Project
    • Stymied by Segregations: How Integration Can Transform North Carolina Schools and the Lives of Its Students

Issue Statements

  • Policy Statement on the Public Schools (12/15/2017)
  • A Statement on the Public Schools (9/5/2006)
  • The Role of Religion in Public Education (5/7/1998)
  • Church Women United in NC– Click here to sign their petition asking the North Carolina legislature to increase funding for public schools.
  • EdNC
  • League of Women Voters of NC
  • NC Child
  • North Carolina Association of Educators
  • NC Justice Center Education and Law Project
  • Pastors for NC Children
  • Public Schools First NC
  • United Methodist Advocates for Public Schools (UMAPS)

Advocacy Tool-Kits:

  • North Carolina Council of Churches Advocacy Tool-Kit
  • Public Schools First Advocacy Tool-Kit
  • NC Justice Center Education and Law Project Trainings
  • White Ally Toolkit

HIGHLIGHT: LEANDRO V. STATE SUPREME COURT RULING

Click here to read about the milestone Leandro v. State ruling set forth by the Supreme Court outlining a fair and constitutional education in the United States. For a more detailed understanding of this case and its effects, we we encourage you to read Steve Ford’s analysis here.

In the News

  • Beyond Plan B: North Carolina must do more to get kids & teachers safely back to school
  • EdNC News
  • More than half of Americans support pay raises for teachers – poll finds
  • NC Policy Watch Education Archives
  • NEA Ranks NC 37th for Teacher Pay
  • Public Schools First NC Breaking News
  • School Nurses Discuss Their Role in Preventing Gun Violence
  • What We Demand for our Children: Everything
  • Why NC leaders think more nurses, counselors and social workers could make schools safer
  • WRAL Education Coverage

Related

‘Sound Basic’ Truths About Our Schools
Let Justice Roll: Sustain the Veto
Raleigh Report – April 29, 2019

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Public Education

Latest Tweets

Today, the #NewWayForward Act was reintroduced in Congress. This legislation will: ✅ End criminal system to deportation pipeline ✅ End mandatory detention and for-profit detention ✅ End local collaboration with ICE ✅ Provide people deported opportunity to apply to come home pic.twitter.com/GvCL…

Yesterday

Within hours of his inauguration, President Biden began making big changes, including to U.S. immigration policy. Click the link to see an @afsc_org's overview of these changes and what this means for immigrant communities: afsc.org/blogs/news-…

Yesterday

You have a spot, take your shot. Visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.… to view up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccines. #StayStrongNC pic.twitter.com/5ic1…

About 2 days ago

On Friday, our Executive Director, Jennifer Copeland @jec16, spoke with @TheWorld on NPR about the Biden moratorium pausing deportations for 100 days and how this is affecting the leaders in sanctuary in NC. Tune in at the link! pri.org/file/2021-01…

About 2 days ago

Amazing news for the leaders in sanctuary! Jose Chicas, who has been living in sanctuary for more than 3 and a half years, is finally being reunited with his family. newsobserver.com/new… pic.twitter.com/iMVX…

About 5 days ago

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

We are experiencing collective trauma in different spaces. It has been very challenging, but please know that you are not alone. Click below to read more about how the pandemic is affecting our #mentalhealth and steps you can take to manage it. #StrongerTogether #MindfulTogether twitter.com/MentalHe…

About 5 days ago

RT @StampStigma 🛑 Stop scrolling! 🛑 Relax your shoulders and try taking 5 deep breaths. Taking frequent breaks from social media is a good practice to start implementing in your daily routine!

About 5 days ago

There's still time to register - make sure to join us! #MindfulTogether @ncchurches @ncdhhs twitter.com/healthan…

About 6 days ago

We will heal together. #StrongerTogether #InaugurationDay twitter.com/ncchurch…

Last week

RT @CDCgov If you’ve had #COVID19, you should still get vaccinated. Experts aren’t sure how long someone is protected from getting sick again after recovering, and reinfection is possible. More: bit.ly/3g5amLz. #SleeveUp pic.twitter.com/Yrne…

Last week

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @adrien4ej Hey @JoeBiden @POTUS @Gina_McCarthy: Thanks for saying #NoKXL! Now we need you to #BuildBackFossilFree and stop all the other fossil fuel projects that are just as bad. Invest in communities, not more fracking, pipelines, and exports. #noDAPL #StopLine3 #StopFormosa #NoMVP pic.twitter.com/2TyG…

About 12 hours ago

RT @ClimateWest Call the @WhiteHouse, tell @POTUS, @JoeBiden to #BuildBackFossilFree! 888-724-8946 facebook.com/1333715… pic.twitter.com/8dBr…

About 12 hours ago

RT @350 The Biden Administration can change the course of the climate crisis through executive actions. Join the digital rally *happening right now* to find out how U.S. President Biden can #BuildBackFossilFree. ➡️ fal.cn/BBFFRally pic.twitter.com/7jc5…

About 13 hours ago

RT @greenfaithworld Thank you @POTUS for rescinding the permit for #KeystoneXL! This was good news. Now, we call on you to #StopLine3 and #ShutDownDakotaAccess. The same reasons you committed to shutting down KXL apply to the Dakota Access and #Line3 pipelines. Image: @GiniwCollective pic.twitter.com/Mk5k…

About 13 hours ago

RT @MNIPL Join us in St. Paul on Friday to stand for our water and climate and #StopLine3 twitter.com/HonorThe…

About 13 hours ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine