This document summarizes a presentation given by Brenda Berg on transforming education in North Carolina. Berg argues that North Carolina faces a growing skills gap that will make it difficult for companies to fill positions. Student academic performance in the state is mediocre compared to other systems that are improving. There is no clear talent plan for educators in the state from pre-K to postgraduate. Berg outlines a vision for prioritizing student success in school, work and life by supporting students, elevating educators, and raising expectations. This involves convening stakeholders around a shared vision and advocating for policies and programs to move the needle on student outcomes.

1. ShaftesburyShaftesburyShaftesburyShaftesbury
SocietySocietySocietySociety
LuncheonLuncheonLuncheonLuncheon
Hosted byHosted byHosted byHosted by thethethethe
John Locke FoundationJohn Locke FoundationJohn Locke FoundationJohn Locke Foundation
August 17, 2015
The Business Case for Education
Why North Carolina can (and must) have
the best education system in the nation

2. Today’s conversation…Today’s conversation…Today’s conversation…Today’s conversation…
The Business Case for Education: Why North
Carolina can (and must) have the best education
system in the nation
North Carolina’s Crisis of Mediocrity
Moving the Needle on Education
Setting a Vision for Education in North Carolina

3. Some of BEST NC’s Member CompaniesSome of BEST NC’s Member CompaniesSome of BEST NC’s Member CompaniesSome of BEST NC’s Member Companies

4. Brenda BergBrenda BergBrenda BergBrenda Berg
Entrepreneur. Education Advocate. Parent.

5. Why Transform Education inWhy Transform Education inWhy Transform Education inWhy Transform Education in
North Carolina?North Carolina?North Carolina?North Carolina?
We are facing a growing SKILLS GAP that will make it
difficult to fill positions in our companies.
STUDENT academic performance in NC is flat &
mediocre when other systems are improving.
We have no “Talent Plan” for EDUCATORS in North
Carolina from pre-K to postgraduate.

6. NC’s Crisis of MediocrityNC’s Crisis of MediocrityNC’s Crisis of MediocrityNC’s Crisis of Mediocrity
WHY WE NEED EDUCATIONAL TRANSFORMATION… NOW

7. The Skills Gap is GrowingThe Skills Gap is GrowingThe Skills Gap is GrowingThe Skills Gap is Growing

8. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
1
2020 Skills Gap2020 Skills Gap2020 Skills Gap2020 Skills Gap
67% of NC jobs in 2020 will require some postsecondary education
58% of NC adults in 2013 have that level of education
34% of adults age 25 and older have an associate’s degree or higher
Source: Center for Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University
Expect a shortfall of
46,000 workers and
77,000 underemployed
workers by 2020

9. Educational AttainmentEducational AttainmentEducational AttainmentEducational Attainment
40% of North Carolina employers report “absolutely
critical” vacancies40%
67%
46th
By 2020, 67% of jobs in NC will require some
postsecondary education
NC ranks 46th in the nation when it comes to
meeting our postsecondary attainment needs
Source: NC Dept of Commerce and Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce

10. Career and College ReadinessCareer and College ReadinessCareer and College ReadinessCareer and College Readiness
16%
47%
Only 16% of North Carolina high school graduates
met college readiness benchmarks on the ACT
Nearly half of NC’s high school graduates fail to
meet any ACT college readiness benchmarks
Source: ACT
Among states with 100% ACT participation, NC
scores last (behind Mississippi and Louisiana)Last

11. “Good is the enemy of great.”
Jim Collins

12. Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress, National Center for Education Statistics
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
NAEP 4th Grade MathNAEP 4th Grade MathNAEP 4th Grade MathNAEP 4th Grade Math
MA MS NC Natl Avg

13. 245
250
255
260
265
270
275
280
1998 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
NAEP 8th Grade Reading
MA MS NC Natl Avg
250
260
270
280
290
300
310
2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
NAEP 8th Grade Math
MA NS NC Natl Avg
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
245
250
255
2000 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
NAEP 4th Grade Math
MA MS NC Natl Avg
200
205
210
215
220
225
230
235
240
1998 2002 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
NAEP 4th Grade Reading
MA MS NC Natl Avg
50th 41st
36th 34th
Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress, National Center for Education Statistics

14. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
NC Students Economically
Disadvantaged
Non-Economically
Disadvantaged
4th Grade Literacy
Percent Below Basic Percent at or Above Basic
Percent At or Above Proficient Percent Advanced
65% not
Proficient
31% not
Basic
Students who can read are ready to learn.
Source: National Assessment of Educational Progress, National Center for Education Statistics

15. 26th
17th
21st
MATH READING SCIENCE
2012 PISA Comparisons
US vs 34 OECD Countries
Source: Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), 2012
US students are in the middle of the pack internationally.

16. NC has a “Talent Crisis”NC has a “Talent Crisis”NC has a “Talent Crisis”NC has a “Talent Crisis”
inininin oooour Schoolsur Schoolsur Schoolsur Schools

17. Education TalentEducation TalentEducation TalentEducation Talent
NC’s teacher education programs have seen a 27%
drop in enrollment over the past four years27%
15%
14%
NC’s alternative entry candidates make up nearly
15% percent of the teaching force, but rank among
the lowest-performing
Teacher turnover in K-12 public schools has been
above 12% since 2011
Source: DPI and UNC GA

18. Outdated Organizational ModelOutdated Organizational ModelOutdated Organizational ModelOutdated Organizational Model
Graphic updated on 03/22/15

19. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every
opportunity; an optimist sees the
opportunity in every difficulty.”
Winston Churchill

20. Moving the NeedleMoving the NeedleMoving the NeedleMoving the Needle
on Educationon Educationon Educationon Education

21. The Most Successful Systems in the World …The Most Successful Systems in the World …The Most Successful Systems in the World …The Most Successful Systems in the World …
High-quality, resourced school teachers and
leaders
More equitable allocation of resources
Autonomy with accountability and teacher-
principal collaboration
Pre-primary education
Source: PISA 2012 Results in Focus, OECD (2013)

22. North Carolina is uniquelyNorth Carolina is uniquelyNorth Carolina is uniquelyNorth Carolina is uniquely
positioned to have the bestpositioned to have the bestpositioned to have the bestpositioned to have the best
education system in the nation.education system in the nation.education system in the nation.education system in the nation.

23. NC Historic Commitment to EducationNC Historic Commitment to EducationNC Historic Commitment to EducationNC Historic Commitment to Education
1776177617761776 NorthNorthNorthNorth Carolina's First ConstitutionCarolina's First ConstitutionCarolina's First ConstitutionCarolina's First Constitution Recognizes EducationRecognizes EducationRecognizes EducationRecognizes Education
1789178917891789 University of North Carolina CharteredUniversity of North Carolina CharteredUniversity of North Carolina CharteredUniversity of North Carolina Chartered
1840184018401840 FirstFirstFirstFirst Public School in NorthPublic School in NorthPublic School in NorthPublic School in North CarolinaCarolinaCarolinaCarolina
1907190719071907 First KindergartenFirst KindergartenFirst KindergartenFirst Kindergarten
1919191919191919 School Length to 6 Months / Teacher Certification EstablishedSchool Length to 6 Months / Teacher Certification EstablishedSchool Length to 6 Months / Teacher Certification EstablishedSchool Length to 6 Months / Teacher Certification Established
1977197719771977 Kindergarten for AllKindergarten for AllKindergarten for AllKindergarten for All
1993199319931993 Smart StartSmart StartSmart StartSmart Start
1997199719971997 Leandro Supreme Court CaseLeandro Supreme Court CaseLeandro Supreme Court CaseLeandro Supreme Court Case
2002200220022002 First Early College HighFirst Early College HighFirst Early College HighFirst Early College High SchoolSchoolSchoolSchool
2007200720072007 North Carolina Virtual Public SchoolNorth Carolina Virtual Public SchoolNorth Carolina Virtual Public SchoolNorth Carolina Virtual Public School

24. Bright Lights in NCBright Lights in NCBright Lights in NCBright Lights in NC
Early Learning
Finance Equity
Data & Accountability
Early College Programs
Community College System
NC Public University System

25. Setting a Vision:Setting a Vision:Setting a Vision:Setting a Vision:
prioritizing student successprioritizing student successprioritizing student successprioritizing student success
in school, work & lifein school, work & lifein school, work & lifein school, work & life
SUPPORT STUDENTS, ELEVATE EDUCATORS & RAISE EXPECTATIONS

26. Why Business?Why Business?Why Business?Why Business?
End-user of education
Long-term focused and steady
Independence, no direct benefit
Understand the value of talent

27. • Convene a broad
constituency,
• Encourage
collaboration around a
shared, bold vision for
education, and
• Advocate for policies,
research, programs,
and awareness that will
move the needle.
Convene
VisionAdvocate Coalitions
Shared
Strategies
for Change

28. Innovation Lab
summer 2014
Working Groups
(<350 participants)
summer-fall 2014
NC Education Vision
(<600 recs + <20 strat. plans)
spring 2015
Move the needle on student success
Evidence-based
Scalable (as needed)
Actionable
Feasible
Recap of the Vision InitiativeRecap of the Vision InitiativeRecap of the Vision InitiativeRecap of the Vision Initiative

29. North Carolina Education VisionNorth Carolina Education VisionNorth Carolina Education VisionNorth Carolina Education Vision
Support
Students
Access
Personalized
Learning
Systems of
Support
Elevate
Educators
Early Learning
Workforce
Top K-12 Talent
Inspiring K-12
Leadership
Post-Secondary
Talent
Raise
Expectations
Career &
College
Readiness
Governance &
Effective
Agencies
Accountability
School to Career Transitions
(middle school through retraining)
Elevating K-12 Educators
(Principals, teachers and staff)
Foundations for Learning
(Birth to 3rd Grade Literacy)
10PrioritiesVisionCoalitions
38 Approaches:
Including Personalized Learning, Systems of Support and Measure What Matters

30. 2nd Innovation Lab
Sept 2015 and annually
Vision Working Groups
fall 2015-ongoing
NC Education Vision
spring-summer 2015
Review and ratify an action
plan based on the Vision
Demonstrate unity toward
a shared, solutions-
oriented plan
Moving from Vision to ActionMoving from Vision to ActionMoving from Vision to ActionMoving from Vision to Action
Work collaboratively with
diverse stakeholders on
specific, actionable 1-3 year
projects that require
collaboration and facilitate
significant impact

31. Questions?Questions?Questions?Questions?