High Point Represented in Washington D.C. at Meeting with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

Paul J. Norcross, Chairman of the 7 Degrees of Change Foundation, and co-founder with Kim Norcross M.A.Ed. of the oldest and largest public school of choice in High Point, was invited to meet with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 to discuss Public Education across the country. Norcross was asked to represent the state of North Carolina with nearly a dozen other key education leaders from across the country. The main topics of the discussion were the continuing regulations coming from the Federal and State Governments stifling Local Education Authorities (LEA’s), the lack of equitable funding and the negative perception of public education and educators in this country. Hardest hit are schools of choice which are held in manycases to higher standards, while serving the same diverse student populations and accountable to all of the same standards, all whilereceiving only 70% of the funding that traditional public schools receive, and under far more scrutiny in the media and in the public square. Although there is no legal cap, one is built in when schools of choice expand exponentially, the students scores immediately follow them to the school, not allowing time to remediate and help those looking for choices for their students without a waiver period to raise the students up. Very few are willing to take the risk in order to serve the children. Secretary DeVos was very attentive and engaged in the discussions, taking two pages of notes with three staff members in the meeting also listening attentively and taking notes. Lt. Governor Dan Forrest met with the Secretary the following day and State Superintendant Mark Johnson will be with her this month. North Carolina has a voice in Washington.