A new study from CALN sounds the alarm on the educational systems in the Carolinas. Student achievement issues have deepened since Covid.

RALEIGH, NC—Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN) today released a new report outlining the urgent need to raise student achievement in North and South Carolina. The paper, Carolinas at Risk, shows continued stagnant or downward trends in core subjects like reading years after the COVID-19 pandemic, putting the long-term prosperity and competitiveness of both states in jeopardy.

Importance of Student Achievement in Education

The report follows in the footsteps of the landmark 1983 publication A Nation at Risk, which alerted the American public to a “rising tide of mediocrity” that had swept over our school institutions. More than four decades after its release, CALN’s new report shows that problems within the Carolinas’ public education system have deepened.

Among other discoveries on student achievement, it finds that graduation rates are generally rising in both states, while test scores show that student proficiency is declining or flat. This raises concerns that students are being pushed out of the education system before they are ready, lacking the skills and knowledge required for life after school.

“An alarming number of students continue to struggle to read at grade level, meet expectations in math, and demonstrate a core understanding of history and civics,” said Bryce Fiedler, director of CALN. “We can’t expect our states or our people to prosper without meaningful school improvement.”

This ambitious project was a collaborative effort of CALN and leading public policy think tanks from the Carolinas—the John Locke Foundation and the South Carolina Policy Council—with research contributions by the Palmetto Promise Institute.

“The data show that many North Carolina students are not adequately prepared for success in college or the workforce,” said Kaitlyn Shepherd, education policy analyst for the Center for Effective Education at the John Locke Foundation. “Fortunately, there are several steps policymakers can take to help turn the tide and promote academic flourishing.”

Sam Aaron, research director for the South Carolina Policy Council, added, “Ensuring that students are equipped for the future and achieving at high academic levels is of the utmost importance. SCPC is proud to work with CALN and our local partners on raising the bar for education in North and South Carolina.”

You can read the full report and its policy recommendations here.

About Carolinas Academic Leadership Network (CALN):

CALN is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence and effective school board governance. We strive to equip North and South Carolina school board leaders with the tools and training necessary to navigate today’s educational challenges and effectively serve their districts. Our mission is to be the foremost advocate for student achievement, parental authority, and exemplary school board service throughout the Carolinas.