The Senate voted today to adopt SB 812 Maintain State Authority Over Academic Standards.

The House Education Committee approved HB 1061 Replace Common Core to Meet NC’s Needs.  The Senate Education Committee will take up the Senate version of Replace Common Core tomorrow.

The House Education Committee meets today at 10 a.m.  Watch the WRAL live stream of this Committee meeting: http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/video/13696242/  

This past year school districts have been implementing the new Read to Achieve legislation which requires that all third graders (unless they meet limited exceptions) read at third grade level before they can be promoted to fourth grade. NCPTA has received input from parents that the implementation of this law has been stressful for many third graders and their parents.  PTAs, along with other education groups, have been working to get changes made to the law that both ensure its success and make it less stressful for students, parents and teachers. HB 230 was presented and voted on by the NC

The North Carolina Senate released a $21.2 billion proposed budget on May 28 that provides for an average 11% pay raise for teachers in North Carolina who agree to give up their tenure.  If this proposed increase is adopted, North Carolina would move from 47th to 27th in teacher pay in the United States and move North Carolina ahead of Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina in teacher compensation.

The State Senate voted to pass its proposed budget on May 31.  Attention now turns to the House of Representatives as its leaders develop its proposed State budget.  Here are some of the budget advocacy items that NCPTA is working on: 1.  NCPTA strongly advocates for increased teacher compensation to ensure that North Carolina teacher compensation is regionally competitive and that North Carolina attracts the best and brightest students to enter and stay in the teaching profession.  North Carolina ranks 47th in the United States in teacher compensation.  We can do better for our teachers and our children. 2.  NCPTA

The Senate budget released on May 28 also contained a number of cuts to public education.   Some of the proposed cuts are as follows: Reduces funding for teacher assistants by $233 million so that state funding would only provide for teacher assistants in grades K-1 and not K-3 Cuts $3.5 million from school bus replacement Cuts $28.6 million from school transportation services.  State funding for driver education would be eliminated Cuts the Department of Public Instruction by 30% Cuts 70 school nurse positions

The North Carolina Senate released a $21.2 billion proposed budget on May 28 that provides for an average 11% pay raise for teachers in North Carolina who agree to give up their tenure.  If this proposed increase is adopted, North Carolina would move from 47th to 27th in teacher pay in the United States and move North Carolina ahead of Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina in teacher compensation.