North Carolina Voices: Radio Series Addresses Rural Education Issues


Last Updated: September 18, 2009
 

WUNC Reporter Dave DeWitt visits Warren County to bring listeners the latest edition of the award-winning North Carolina Voices series. He tells the stories of students with big dreams — and even bigger challenges; teachers who take less money to try to make a dent in the achievement gap; and the innovative efforts underway that are showing promise.

Nearly half of the students in North Carolina attend rural schools — only one state in the country has more. For decades, the formula that funds schools at the state and national level has favored urban and suburban schools. That has led to a crisis in North Carolina’s small communities:  historically high drop-out rates, low test scores, and a high teacher turnover rate.

The Rural Trust's Executive Director Dr. Doris Terry Williams and Policy Director Marty Strange are featured in the first segment of the series.

There reports are part of the ongoing North Carolina Voices series from North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC. Click here for broadcast archives of these reports.