Public Education in north Carolina is in Trouble due to underfunding
The North Carolina Constitution guarantees the right to a basic education for all children through two of its articles:
Article I, Section 15:
- Says the people have the right to an education, and the state is responsible for protecting and maintaining that right.
Article IX, Section 2:
- Requires the state to provide a free, uniform system of public schools that are open to all students and offer equal opportunities.
Legislators have failed to provide sufficient resources that guarantee these rights.
Low teacher pay and per student funding are hurting our neighborhood schools and communities.
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.
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!
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 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.
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.
LEGISLATORS ARE MOVING MORE PUBLIC SCHOOL TAX MONEY TO PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS For MILLIONAIRES
- 91% of private schools receiving this tax money are religious schools.
- Only 2% of recipients require that teachers be certified.
- Only 8.5% of recipients report student outcomes.
- Most families who would receive taxpayer dollars to attend private schools made over $115,400, with 18% making over $259,000, per year.
EVEN DEEP RED TEXAS AND SOUTH CAROLINA REJECTED TAX PAYER MONEY GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS FOR MILLIONAIRES
- The Texas House rejected private vouchers because they will hurt rural schools. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YDTuHSoe_w
- The South Carolina Supreme court rejected private vouchers as unconstitutional. https://edlawcenter.org/south-carolina-supreme-court-strikes-down-unconstitutional-private-school-vouchers/
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
- Make a tax-deductible contribution to keep this campaign going so North Carolinians learn the facts.
- Find out where your legislator stands on paying NC teachers the professional wage they deserve, funding our schools and keeping tax payer money out of vouchers for millionaires.
- Vote for those who support public schools
Do it for our children. Their future matters.
Early Voting Starts 10/17/2024
Find polling dates, places and other information from NCSBE website:
Find information about candidates at various other websites: