The GOP-led NC legislature’s 2013 decision to end graduate degree pay bumps for new teachers entering the teaching profession was not only misguided, but another wave in the assault on public education that continues here in the Old North State. And the very person who has influenced more policy on public education since 2013, Sen. … Continue reading NC Should Restore Graduate Degree Pay

As every August approaches, teachers begin a new school year and their “step” will increase by another year. That “step” is the number of years served in schools. Not long ago, teachers who served the state for at least ten years would receive what was called “longevity” pay as part of their commitment to public … Continue reading This Teacher Has Lost Over $15K In Longevity Pay. What About You, Veteran Teacher?

Below is the salary schedule for a teacher in North Carolina for the 2023-2024 school year. Any teacher new to the profession in the last nine years would never be on the second schedule because newer teachers are not allowed a pay bump for graduate degrees. Notice how the salaries also plateau after year 15. … Continue reading They Are Already Cutting Teacher Retirement. Just Look.

Here is the salary schedule that was in place for the 2023-2024 school year and will still be in place if a new budget is not passed that changes it. For those who are not teachers, make sure to pay attention to years 15-24. Frozen. 10 years of the same. There is no longevity pay … Continue reading 10 Frozen Years: The NCGA’s Plan To Eliminate Career Teachers

In October of 2017, the venerable James Ford of the Public School Forum delivered the keynote address at the North Carolina English Teacher’s Association. It was more than exceptional as Ford highlighted that what hurts our schools most are external factors that are not being dealt with such as systemic poverty. Part of his presentation … Continue reading EVAAS Still Sucks

Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive an increase in salary and a higher certificate if they held graduate degrees. That does not happen any longer. Ten years ago teachers in North Carolina could receive due-process rights after a few years of teaching to allow themselves a chance for defense if their jobs … Continue reading The Endgame: No More Career Teachers In North Carolina

From a prepared statement last summer in front of a U.S. House Committee: So much for transparency.

First, read this post on Notes From The Chalkboard by Justin Parmenter entitled "For-profit charter school operators grease NC politicians’ palms to ensure they get a piece of the pie." Parmenter elegantly shows how the use of political contributions to those in power who can make decisions are having drastic effects on the health of … Continue reading Just Follow The Damn Money!

The powers that rule in the North Carolina General Assembly have been waging a war against public schools in our state for the last four years. Under the guise of “reform,” GOP conservatives driven by ALEC-crafted policies have successfully enabled and instituted privatization efforts in many forms: unregulated charter school development, expansive growth of unproven … Continue reading North Carolina’s Quest to Make Veteran Teachers Extinct

North Carolina has had record budget surpluses but refuses to acknowledge the LEANDRO decision that emphatically states that NC has failed to fully fund our public school system for decades. Teachers fill out a working conditions survey every other year for the state that has no questions about how teachers feel the state handles public … Continue reading North Carolina Is The Most Cruelly Ironic State When It Comes To Public Education