NC Teacher Pay Drops, Widening Gap in Education

0:00A new state report reveals that average teacher pay in North Carolina fell by 1% this school year, dropping to $60,984 from last years, $61,435. This marks the only state without a budget pass last year, leaving most educators without new raises beyond small longevity increases after 15, or 25 years of service. Supporters of public schools worry this widens the gap, as North Carolina already sits 43rd nationally in teacher salaries and 6th in the Southeast region. The budget stalemate stems from disagreements between Republican leaders in the House and Senate over tax cuts, sparking protests like a major teacher. Walkout in January, and high turnover rates, with one in 10 educators leaving annually. Governor Josh Stein recently called for 13% raises for starting teachers, and nearly 6% for veterans, while House plans aim. Higher at 8.7% over two years, leaving talks set for the spring session as rankings risk slipping further.

1:05Stay in form with Durham News today. AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.