Here’s the House budget, proposed on May 16 and passed on May 19. It includes small teacher pay raises. They average 3% but are structured so that teachers in the middle of their careers get more than new or veteran teachers. Those teachers would get bonuses of $1,000, paid throughout the year, rather than salary increases.
The NC House Education Appropriations subcommittee released its budget report and special provisions proposal. It does not include funding for teacher pay increases as the writers say they will add that to the budget further along in the process. The proposal cuts funds for smaller first grade class sizes in order to add money for literacy coaches.
Gov. McCrory released his 2016 budget proposal on April 22, 2016. It includes more money for teacher pay, however half of the raises come in the form of one-time bonuses rather than sustained salary increases. Per pupil funding also remains meager, well below pre-Recession levels when adjusted for inflation.
The State Board of Education released a set of budget priorities that aim to make NC number one for teacher pay in the Southeast. Currently, we are 9th out of the 12 states. The priorities reflect a “needs list” of more than $200 million in extra funding.
