RALEIGH, NC — Speaker of the NC House Tim Moore (R-Cleveland County) and NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham County) held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss the education budget and announce a pledge to give the state’s fifth consecutive pay raise for teachers.
The conference comes one day before thousands of teachers from across the state plan to rally in Raleigh for better pay and more school funding.
You can watch the entire news conference below:
The NC lawmakers say teachers can expect to see a 6.2% pay raise in the 2018-19 school year alone. Moore and Berger say the raises will also be paid without the need for a tax hike.
Since 2013-14, officials say teacher pay has increased on average by 19%.
The North Carolina General Assembly released the following information on teacher pay in NC following Tuesday’s news conference:
- In 2018, North Carolina public school teachers will receive a fifth consecutive pay raise.
- The average teacher pay raise from 2017-19 will be $4,412, a 9.5 percent increase.
- The average teacher pay raise from 2014-2019 will be $8,600, a 19.1 percent increase.
- North Carolina ranked #2 in the U.S. for fastest rising teacher pay in 2018 according to the National Education Association.
- A teacher with five years of experience will earn $9,200 more in 2018-19 than the same teacher in 2013-14, from $30,800 to $40,000, a 29.9 percent increase.
- A teacher with twelve years of experience will earn $15,330 more in 2018-19 than that teacher did in 2013-14, from $31,670 to $47,000, a 48 percent increase.
- A teacher with sixteen years of experience will earn $11,840 more in 2018-19 than the same teacher did in 2013-14, from $38,160 to $50,000, a 31 percent increase.
- A teacher with twenty-five years of experience will earn $9,040 more in 2018-19 than they did in 2013-14, from $42,260 to $51,300, a 21.4 percent increase.
- Other bonus programs, compensation incentives and support for North Carolina teachers include:
- Teacher Assistant Tuition Reimbursement
- Initial Teacher Licensing Fee Reimbursement
- Future Teachers of North Carolina
- Supplements for Highly Qualified Graduates
- Advanced Teaching Roles Pilot Program
- New Teacher Support Program
- Highly qualified Teacher Salary Supplements
- 3rd Grade Reading Bonuses
- AP/IB/CTE Bonuses
- 4th-8th Reading/Math Bonuses
- Veteran teacher bonuses
- New Teaching Fellows Program
For more information on the proposed pay increases and a look at how base teacher pay has been impacted in the past five years, CLICK HERE.
In preparation for the May 16th rally, districts all across the state announced closures for students and an optional teacher workday for staff. School officials say the closures were necessary due to the high volume of teachers requesting the day off.
The following school districts in the WCCB viewing area will be closed Wednesday, May 16th:
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Mooresville Graded Schools
- Cabarrus County Schools
- Iredell-Statesville Schools
- Kannapolis City Schools
- Hickory Public Schools
- Union County Public Schools
- Caldwell County Schools
- Stanly County Schools
A Charlotte rally for public education will also be held on May 16th at First Ward Park in Charlotte. The Charlotte March for Students & Rally For Respect will take place from 11am to 1:30pm at the park on E. 7th Street.
Officials say this event will allow teachers, students, and parents in and around Charlotte to show their support locally for those rallying in Raleigh.
The event is family-friendly and attendees are encouraged to wear red as a sign of support.
