NC Board of Education

State of North Carolina Office of the Governor

Michael F. Easley Governor

For Immediate Release Date: December 4, 2003

Gov. Easley Unveils New N.C. School Report Cards Billboard Business Donates Space to Help Spread Word Across State

Raleigh - Gov. Mike Easley joined State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee and State Superintendent of Education Mike Ward today to unveil the 2003 North Carolina School Report Cards. The report cards include more information than ever before and will be distributed to parents by districts starting Friday, which was proclaimed N.C. School Report Card Day.

''It is our job to help parents do their job,'' said Easley. ''With the information available in the school report cards, parents across the state will know exactly what is going on in their schools. We must continue to do what we can to keep our parents informed and involved. When parents are involved, children succeed.''

The 2003 North Carolina School Report Cards include new data including: School district information about school facilities.

School district financial information including the amount of federal, state and local funding; how funds are spent; and capital expenditures.

New teacher quality information as defined by the federal ''No Child Left Behind'' statutes.

Annual Yearly Progress results according to federal ''No Child Left Behind'' statutes.

New school suspension and school violence data.

High school graduation rates.

The number of classrooms with Internet connections.

''Each year, we have worked to provide new levels of school information for parents and citizens,'' said Ward. ''This year, parents can access critical information about the safety of school and new measures of student achievement. We will continue to broaden and improve the information available to North Carolinians about their schools.''

Also today, Gov. Easley announced a partnership among the State Board of Education, the Department of Public Instruction and Fairway Outdoor Advertising to help spread word about school report cards to the public. Fairway Outdoor Advertising has donated advertising space on 200 existing billboards across the state to publicize the report cards and the website www.NCReportCards.org . The donation is valued at $ 100,000.

''The North Carolina School Report Card effort is one of the best examples of partnership in the state,'' said Lee. ''It brings together state government, local schools and the private industry to help spread the word about North Carolina school performance.''

For more in formation about the North Carolina School Report Card and how to interpret the data, log onto www.NCReportCards.org .

Contact: Samantha Slapnik Phone: 919/733-5612