Federal Government, The governor of North Carolina - Roy Cooper said $8 million will be invested into roughly 2,100 classrooms statewide

By NC North Carolina News

Sep 15, 2023

In a recent announcement, Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina revealed that $8 million in federal funding will be allocated to support over 2,000 public classrooms in the state. This funding aims to address any needs that have arisen at the beginning of the school year. The governor's decision to secure federal funding comes at a time when his budget requests for state funding for public schools have faced disapproval from lawmakers. Cooper's budget requests seek over $100 million more than the current funding amounts for the 2023-2024 school year.

While the state budget delay has been attributed to Republican lawmakers' concerns about expanded gambling provisions, a significant portion of the governor's education funding focus is on preschool classrooms. However, the proposed additional $108.3 million solely for public preschool is still awaiting finalization. Ariel Ford, the director of NCDHHS' Child Development and Early Education, emphasized the importance of investing in early childhood and NC Pre-K classrooms, stating that it strengthens families and boosts the state's economy.

Governor Cooper made the funding announcement during a visit to the Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center of New Hanover County Schools. During his visit, he urged the legislature to pass a budget that prioritizes investments in public schools and early childhood education. Cooper expressed his disappointment in the lack of progress, stating, "As the new school year starts, we are still waiting on Republican legislators to pass a budget that makes meaningful investments in public education."

This $8 million investment in North Carolina's public classrooms demonstrates the state's commitment to providing a strong foundation for success through public education and early childhood education. While the governor awaits the release of the budget by Republican legislators, he remains determined to push for greater investments in education that will benefit all families and contribute to the state's overall economic growth.

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Governor Roy Cooper announced $8 million in federal funding that will go to over 2000 public classrooms in North Carolina to help address any needs that arose with the beginning of the school year. His announcement of the funding comes amidst lawmakers’ disapproval of his budgets requests for state funding for public schools, requests which ask for over $100 million over the current funding amounts for the 23-24 school year, according to a WRAL article.

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Much of the money, and the governor’s focus on education funding, falls on the preschool classrooms, according to NC Newsline. While a delay in the state budget has been attributed to Republican lawmakers’ hesitation on provisions for expanded state-sanctioned gambling, the governor’s additional 108.3 million proposed for just public preschool is also not yet finalized. “When we invest in our network of early childhood and NC Pre-K classrooms and teachers, we help strengthen all families and boost our state’s economy,” NCDHHS’ Child Development and Early Education director Ariel Ford said.

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The Governor made his announcement at Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center of New Hanover County Schools. He toured the center and called on the legislature to pass a budget that would invest in public schools and early childhood education. Cooper explains how he is still waiting on the Republican side of the legislative to release the budget in this quote: "As the new school year starts, we are still waiting on Republican legislators to pass a budget that makes meaningful investments in public education."

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