Carolina Journal Radio No. 887: Remote learning presents challenge for N.C. schools, families

The closing of public school buildings across North Carolina has forced students into remote learning for the final months of the school year. But thousands of students have not logged on to participate in a single online education session. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research and director of education studies, analyzes the impact for educational attainment in N.C. schools. Gov. Roy Cooper’s economic shutdown has prompted a number of complaints from business owners, workers, and other government officials. Gaston County Commissioner Tracy Philbeck has offered vocal opposition to the governor’s statewide shutdown orders. Philbeck shared his concerns during a recent virtual town hall sponsored by the John Locke Foundation. It’s unclear just how hard the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic shutdown will hit the N.C. state budget. State Rep. Jason Saine, R-Lincoln, a top House budget writer, offered a recent assessment for colleagues. Saine explains why decisions about the state budget are likely to be delayed until later in the summer. Some educators complain that a focus on preparing for the SAT and ACT can get in the way of important learning in the high school years. An alternative called the Classic Learning Test is designed to address those concerns. Alec Bianco, the test’s marketing director, distinguishes CLT from its better-known competitors. The Trump administration has been tinkering with Obama-era federal fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles. The John Locke Foundation has joined a group of free-market think tanks asking Trump’s team to take a more reasonable approach to those standards. Donald van der Vaart, JLF senior fellow, explains the little-known consequences of these federal rules.