Maybe first consider what has been taken away over the last two decades in such a surgical manner that it required gerrymanderd anasthesia and artificially sweetened propaganda to make sure it was ingested.

In place 20 years ago	Now in 2026
Caps on class sizes in all grades.	No class size caps and when they were floated as returning would have eliminated specials and electives.
The state of North Carolina financed professional development opportunities for all teachers.	No funding for that exists now.
At least in my school system, we had a seven-period day in which teachers taught 5 of 7 periods throughout the year.	Now in a block system, teachers teach the equivalent of 6 out of 8 periods.
Duties did not include manning metal detectors and sifting through student bags.	Such screening occurs often.
Students received consequences for infractions like skipping, smoking, tardiness, and disrespect.	Students seem to be able to get away with anything without consequences.
North Carolina did not have a school grading system driven by test scores.	NC has a school grading system that literally shows the effects of poverty on communities.
No EVAAS.	EVAAS with secret algorithms.
Salary step increases every year.	Frozen ten years in the salary schedule.
Graduate degree pay.	No graduate degree pay.
Longevity pay.	No longevity pay.
Due process rights.	No due process rights.
Charter school cap.	No charter school cap and no local school board oversight.
No vouchers.	Universal vouchers.
LEANDRO decision.	Abolishment of the LEANDRO decision.
Yearly budgets.	NOPE.
Ranked in the middle nation for teacher pay in public schools within a state.	46th out of 51 (DC included).
Retiree health benefits.	No retiree health benefits.
COLA for retirees.	No COLA.
90/10 plan for health insurance with low deductibles and premiums.	80/20 with hundreds needs for monthly coverage.