NC Governor Pat McCrory presented the “State of the State” speech on Monday, highlighting his three main priorities as the economy, education, and efficiency.

With respect to education reform, the governor reiterated many of the recommendations he’s advocated in the past: encouraging strategic partnerships with businesses, tearing down the four “silos” of education to foster collaboration and maximize resources, and ensuring that students have the knowledge and skills to get jobs for a lifetime of work. He added some fresh proposals, including expanded use of technology and virtual learning in the classroom, reduced administrative costs in the education lottery to more directly benefit schools, and reinstatement of the N.C. Education Cabinet.

His education focus comes on the heels of signing his first bill into law, SB 14, which establishes a diploma endorsement for high-school students indicating they are “college ready”, “career ready”, or both. Read news coverage by WUNC and the Raleigh News & Observer .