North Carolina's low-performing schools will be getting less financial help this year. This is a result of budget cuts from the State Board of Education.
The board approved Tuesday $2.5 million in cuts, following a directive from state lawmakers to eliminate over $3 million from the Department of Public Instruction.
The News and Observer of Raleigh reports the cuts will include layoffs and the elimination of vacant positions in the divisions that help low-performing schools and provide training to teachers. According to board member Eric Davis, the cuts will especially hurt districts that rely most heavily on the state.
Board members say they made the cuts reluctantly, blaming state legislators for the mandate.
This division highlights ongoing tensions between the state board and the Department of Public Instruction, which works with North Carolina's public schools.
The Republican-led legislature wants to see power transferred from the board to state Superintendent Mark Johnson.
Johnson called the funding cuts “challenging,” but says he believes DPI will emerge stronger and more efficient.
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