Did you know that Apex Elementary has an Advocacy Chairperson? This individual attends advisory council meetings and Apex Education Advisory Committee meetings, reporting back to us with notes and action items. Our current chair is Jen Ferrell.

Updates
December 12, 2019 | Leandro Report from Public Schools First NC
A major review titled Leandro Report: Sound Basic Education for All was released this week. The report comes from Public Schools First NC, a non-profit organization focused on advocacy for public education. This comprehensive action plan is designed to provide a roadmap of the actions and investments that are needed for state leadership to meet the constitutional obligation to provide every child in North Carolina with the opportunity for a sound basic education. To address the eight critical-need areas identified in the research, short- and long-term actions and investments are needed, including the following:
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  1. Revise the state funding model to provide adequate, efficient, and equitable resources.
  2. Provide a qualified, well-prepared, and diverse teaching staff in every school.
  3. Provide a qualified and well-prepared principal in every school.
  4. Provide all at-risk students with the opportunity to attend high-quality early childhood programs to ensure they can begin kindergarten fully ready to learn.
  5. Direct additional resources, opportunities, and initiatives to economically disadvantaged students.
  6. Revise the student assessment system and school accountability system to provide actionable data and monitor progress toward compliance with the Leandro requirements.
  7. Build an effective regional and statewide system of support for the improvement of lowperforming and high-poverty schools in North Carolina.
  8. Convene an expert panel to assist the Court in monitoring state policies, plans, programs, and progress over time.

Moving forward on this set of recommended actions will enable the state to lead its education system on a path toward a future where many more economically disadvantaged students have a chance to meet challenging academic standards and become college and career ready.

North Carolina has tremendous assets to draw upon in undertaking this work, including a strong state economy, a deep and long-standing commitment to public education to support the social and economic welfare of its
citizens, and an engaged business community that sees the value and economic benefits of the public education system. It has a highly regarded system of higher education and community colleges accessible statewide.

And the North Carolina educator workforce is highly committed and working diligently every day to meet the needs of at-risk children, even contributing their own resources whenever they can to fill needs. The state also has a history of launching and sustaining successful education initiatives. It invested in building a strong core of teacher-leaders, has the most NBPTS-certified educators of any state, piloted models to leverage teacher leadership, and launched innovative programs for preparing teachers and principals. The state has high-quality data systems, has highly rated early learning programs, and has been a leader in digital learning.

Leveraging these many assets and building on its strong history of leadership for education will support North Carolina as it takes on the new challenge to transform its system to ensure access to a sound basic education for all students.
NOVEMBER 18, 2019 | BAC8 Meeting Notes
Our Advocacy Committee Chair, Jen Ferrell, attended a WCPSS Board Advisory Council meeting for District 8. Our district's rep, Lindsey Mahaffey, was present. Dr. Paul Pettiford, Co-Superintendent for Student Support Services, presented to the council on the topic of social emotional learning.
MAY 1, 2019 | APEX PTA Resolution to support educators
WHEREAS, Apex Elementary School PTA recognizes the effort and sacrifices our teachers, administration, and entire staff make on behalf of our students every day; and
WHEREAS, we believe educators’ presence at the Day of Action for Public Education at the North Carolina General Assembly on May 1 2019 is an important and courageous extension of their work;
 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Apex Elementary PTA supports the May 1 Day of Action for Public Education at the General Assembly.  
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we support Wake County Public Schools’ decision to close on May 1. 
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we encourage our members to advocate for a robust public education system in North Carolina.