Guilford County Schools

The participating organizations are implementing a research-based tool called the Early Development Instrument, which measures how children are growing in areas like language, social competence and emotional maturity.

The Trump administration is withholding more than $6 billion in previously approved federal education grants to schools.

Officials say maintaining underutilized schools hurts the district’s already tight budget. They estimate the consolidation will save $1.7 million annually.

The recommended $842 million budget would keep the property tax rate flat, but is at odds with the school district's funding request.

Dual enrollment in Guilford County Schools increased by 46% last year. Superintendent Whitney Oakley says these students took more than 10,000 college courses, amounting to an estimated $2 million in tuition savings.

The four schools up for closure are Madison, Southern, Vandalia and Washington Elementary.

After the rally, attendees headed into a public hearing on the proposed budget, which includes a requested increase of nearly $44 million from the county.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aiming to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. State and local officials are working to determine what the impact will be on North Carolina’s public schools.

Guilford County Schools officials say more funding is needed in part, to offset the cost of students going to charter schools.

The list contains 18 requests. Some of them are monetary, like providing $5 million to Guilford County Schools to sustain a high-dosage tutoring program, where tutors meet with students in small groups multiple times a week.