NC Teachers Deserve better Pay
North Carolina public education is in trouble because of years of underfunding by North Carolina legislators.
Join the effort of protecting our children’s futures.
NC LOST 10,000 TEACHERS IN 2023. THE HIGHEST LOSS IN TWO DECADES!
While many areas of public education need funding improvements, teacher pay is most urgent. NC is hemorrhaging teachers with a ten-year 51 percent decrease in teacher preparation program enrollment, leading to less certified teachers in the classroom across the state.
Facing NC's Educational Failures
These are shameful, embarrassing and unacceptable realities.
5,000 NC TEACHERS SHORT IN 2022
Starting the 2022 school year short 5,000 teachers means that more than 75,000 students started school either without a teacher, or existing teachers started with larger than the recommended class size to accomodate them.
3,000 NC TEACHERS SHORT IN 2023
The 2023 school year started with less teacher shortages only because schools hired more uncertified teachers.
NC AVERAGE TEACHER PAY Fell to 38th in 2023
NC’s rank for average teacher pay in the country is moving in the wrong direction and from 36th in 2022 to 38th in 2023. It is projected to fall further to 41st for 2024.
NC STARTING TEACHER PAY RANKS 42nd IN THE COUNTRY
NC starting teacher pay is not only 42nd in the nation, but at the bottom in the southeast — just above Arkansas.
NC STARTING TEACHER PAY RANKS AT THE BOTTOM IN THE SOUTHEAST
Starting teacher pay is below that of South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama — and even Mississippi, NC loses teachers to neighboring states at an alarming rate.
NC's INVESTMENT IN K-12 EDUCATION RANKS 49th IN THE US!
NC now ranks 49th out of 50 states in percentage of state GDP invested in K-12 public education. This is a minor improvement over our previous ranking of dead last at 50 out of 50!
What NC teachers say
We can do better
NORTH CAROLINA CAN AFFORD TO DO BETTER as we have the resources. We are the #1 state for business, but #49 out of 50 states in percentage of GDP invested in K-12 education. That is simply unacceptable. Legislators fund vouchers for private schools with tax dollars that could otherwise go to public schools.
There is huge support for paying teachers better
Our recent poll revealed that when informed that K-12 public school teachers make 26% less on average than comparable college-educated workers, 82% of NC voters say teachers should be paid closer to what comparably educated workers make, compared with 12% who disagree.
How much more?
78% of NC voters say K-12 public school teachers should be paid more than the 3% raise they’re currently scheduled to receive for 2024-25. Some 20% said teachers should receive a 5% raise, 22% said they deserve an 8% raise, and 36% said they deserve a 10% raise. Just 4% said teachers deserve no raise.
You can make a difference
Donate to keep this campaign going or find out where your legislator stands on paying NC the professional wage they deserve. Do it for our children. Their future matters.