Senate leaders in North Carolina have proposed an 11 percent pay increase for teachers, but this time without requiring them to give up tenure protections. Senator Harry Brown introduced this proposal and pointed out that the budget plan would boost North Carolina to 27^th in pay ranking for teachers in the U.S. Teachers will be ranked at 37^th in pay though if the House’s plan is approved instead.

Representative Brian Holloway says he is glad to see that the Senate offered to give up pay raises contingent on whether or not teachers give up tenure, but did point out that the Senate wants to pay for the plan with the money gained through the elimination of teacher assistants.

Brown and Senator Bob Rucho defend the plan stating that since the teacher assistant model was put into place in classrooms, reading proficiency among children in North Carolina has not increased, but instead proficiency has actually decreased. It was also noted that TA’s have no positive effect on student achievement and are not an essential classroom investment.

Senate leaders also proposed the idea of increasing the lottery advertisement budget to pay for the 5 percent increase in teacher salaries.

Representatives from the House’s plan are unwilling at this time to increase the lottery advertising budget.

I am interested to see whether the Senate or House proposal is passed. I do like that the Senate is offering an 11 percent pay raise to these teachers, but I do not like that the increase in pay is partially funded based on the elimination of Teacher Assistant positions.