Although the legislature was not formally in session this week, several interim committees met to discuss education and transportation policy. Many lawmakers are actively campaigning, ahead of the primary election next Tuesday, March 5. For more information on how to vote early in-person, find your one-stop early voting site, check your voter registration, and more, visit the North Carolina State Board of Elections voting page, or click here.
Interim Education Committees
Lawmakers on two interim committees that oversee education policy in North Carolina convened this week to hear presentations from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and nonprofits.
The House Select Committee on Education Reform, which met Monday, delved into DPI’s innovative proposal to change how schools are held accountable. Currently, school grades are based on each school’s achievement score, weighted 80%, and on students’ academic growth, weighted 20%. State Superintendent Catherine Truitt (R) told committee members that several other states use similar scales to assess schools, but although North Carolina students perform similarly to students in those states, more schools in North Carolina score D’s or F’s.
To bring school grades more in line with student performance, Truitt and her team gave a presentation at the committee and said they will be proposing a new model for grading schools which will aim to provide a more comprehensive assessment of school effectiveness beyond mere test scores. “We have to do more than simply look at test scores that occur on one day of the year,” Truitt emphasized, advocating for a multifaceted approach that includes academics, progress, readiness, and opportunity metrics to offer a clearer picture of a school’s overall performance and preparation of students for post-graduation life.
DPI’s proposal would pilot in the 2024-25 school year, gradually integrating all districts into a new accountability framework in year three. During the pilot, schools, including charter schools, could voluntarily opt in. Truitt said although DPI would not ask legislators for funding to accomplish the pilot, she predicted the department coming back to education appropriators after the pilot concludes for funds to intervene in low-performing schools.
On Tuesday, the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee met to hear various presentations on innovative programs being implemented in schools. Jason Hovey of Khan Academy introduced the nonprofit’s AI technology designed to enhance learning integrity and efficiency. The committee also explored teacher compensation and the potential for automatic enrollment in advanced courses.
DMV Oversight Meeting
During a three-hour committee meeting Thursday, Republican lawmakers criticized officials from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) amidst the backdrop of legislative proposals to potentially privatize DMV’s operations, sparked by persistent customer service complaints. Senator Michael Lazzara (R-Onslow), chairing the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee, initiated the meeting by highlighting numerous grievances from the public regarding scheduling difficulties, prolonged waits for permits or licenses, inconsistent treatment of contractors, and overall unsatisfactory experiences within DMV offices.
DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin, alongside a team of staff, admitted to operational challenges, which worsened after the COVID pandemic, and tried to underscore significant strides in addressing staffing shortages and improving service delivery. In a presentation, he and other DMV officials highlighted the division’s newest initiatives to mend customer experiences, including allowing customers to make appointments online and QR codes in offices to hold a spot in line.
A significant portion of the legislative inquiry focused on the DMV’s engagement with third-party license plate agencies (LPAs), small business owners contracted with by the state for handling license plate transactions. The legislature has long been interested in improving the interaction between DMV and LPAs. In 2012 the legislature’s program evaluation division issued a study that found, “DMV relied on processes that react to problems rather than working with LPAs to improve overall performance.”
The closure of four LPAs over the past two years due to contractual or legal infractions prompted legislators to question the process DMV uses to investigate errors or infractions by the agencies. Representative Steve Tyson (R-Craven) raised questions about the oversight and investigative processes leading to such closures, probing the balance between regulatory enforcement and supportive measures to ensure compliance among LPAs.
Judy Schmidinger, a DMV program analyst overseeing LPAs, explained that the division responds to complaints, which come from either customer feedback or internal audits. Schmidinger emphasized the agency’s commitment to compliance, but lawmakers appeared dissatisfied that there was not a uniform process for assessing the efficiency of agencies or improving their performance. Senator Buck Newton (R-Wilson) questioned DMV policies over the music LPA’s can play, alluding to a recent controversy where an LPA contractor in Lincolnton received a complaint letter from DMV about the office playing Christian music. During the committee meeting, DMV officials confirmed that there was no policy on the type of music LPA offices can play.
Lawmakers further questioned DMV over a controversial recommendation to extend driver’s license renewals from eight years to 16 years, which, after implementation, was criticized publicly by DMV officials for conflicting with federal REAL ID requirements. Commissioner Goodwin faced pointed questions regarding the communication mishaps surrounding this policy, asserting it stemmed from a misinterpretation of federal constraints.
Despite assurances from Goodwin about technological advancements and the push for online transactions to alleviate in-person delays, the session concluded with lawmakers expressing continued dissatisfaction. In his closing remarks, Senator Lazzara spoke pointedly, saying “a broken DMV is a broken promise to our constituents.”
Upcoming Legislative Meetings
Thursday, March 7
1:00 PM: Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety
1:00 PM: Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources
