Raleigh, N.C. – Today, Judge Robert Hobgood entered an order affirming that the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, June Atkinson, has the constitutional authority to run the state’s public schools.  For a number of years, Republicans have offered a number of policy solutions to address the problems facing North Carolina’s public schools.  Those proposals have included expanding career, technical, and vocation training, incentive pay for teachers in high demand subject areas like math, science, and special education, and institution of merit pay tied to results.  Republican legislators have also introduced bills to eliminate unnecessary testing in the public schools.   Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) released the following statement:

“Judge Hobgood’s decision will give the Superintendent the opportunity to once again make the performance of North Carolina’s students the top priority of the Department of Education.  Republican Senators look forward to working with Superintendent Atkinson to implement common-sense solutions to the problems we face in the public schools.  Our students will make the most progress when we concentrate on teaching basic skills and challenge them to learn for life, not simply pass tests.   I know Superintendent Atkinson understands that we cannot continue to delay the progress we need to make in our public schools; we welcome the opportunity to work with her on our common goal – success for North Carolina’s students.”