North Carolina lawmakers return to Raleigh on Tuesday for a new session, still without a full state budget after more than a year of negotiations stalled by divisions over spending.
Teacher pay is expected to be one of the central issues lawmakers will try to resolve. Leaders in both parties agree that raises are needed, but they remain divided on how much to increase salaries and how to structure those raises.
House Republicans have proposed an average 8.7% raise over two years, including a 22% increase in starting pay. Senate Republicans, citing concerns about long-term costs, have backed a smaller plan, offering about 3.3% over the same period, supplemented by one-time bonuses.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s plan would give teachers nearly a 6% raise on average, along with restoring extra pay for teachers with master’s degrees and increasing compensation for veteran teachers and school leaders.
The debate comes as North Carolina continues to lag behind much of the country in teacher pay. The state ranks 43rd nationally, with an average salary of $58,292 — nearly $14,000 below the national average — and lower than every neighboring state.
Top NC House Republican says teacher pay top priority as lawmakers return to Raleigh
A top House Republican said earlier this month that teacher pay will be a priority as lawmakers return.
Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph), chair of the House Education Committee, told education advocates last week that the state must offer meaningful raises this year, not small increases that fail to keep teachers in the profession.
While the short session is scheduled to run through the summer, Biggs signaled that negotiations could stretch much longer.
“We’re working now, getting ready for this short, long session,” Biggs said. “If we’re there December 31, that’s fine. We’re going to get it done.”
The session also begins in the wake of the state Supreme Court’s decision to end the long-running Leandro school funding case earlier this month, shifting responsibility for education funding away from the courts and squarely back to state lawmakers.
North Carolina ranks near the bottom nationally for teacher pay growth and per-student public school funding, according to multiple reports.
Public education advocates say they will use the weeks ahead to pressure legislators to increase spending, arguing the court’s decision leaves elected officials with little excuse not to act.
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