The proposed NC Senate budget provides significant cuts to both teacher assistants and North Carolina Pre-K. The budget cuts 2,400 slots from the North Carolina Pre-K program and cuts an estimated 4,580 teacher assistant positions. The budget also cuts master’s supplement pay for teachers beginning in 2014-2015. Pay will not change for teachers who are receiving the supplement prior to 2014-2015. In addition, the budget repeals the law that provides class size maximums for K-12 classes.
The budget includes additional State support for Teach for America and provides merit pay for teachers, which will allow superintendents to provide a $500 annual pay raise in 2014-15 for teachers opting into a four-year contract based on effectiveness.
The budget now will be considered by the NC House of Representatives which will release its own budget. For a more detailed look at Senate budget provisions, please see this document prepared by the NC Department of Public Instruction, http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/fbs/budget/summary-sb-402-2013.pdf
One of NCPTA’s advocacy priorities is sufficient public education funding to provide every child with an opportunity for a sound basic education.