Governor Stein Advocates for Enhanced Educational Investments in North Carolina
Governor Josh Stein took the stage at the North Carolina School Boards Association Annual Conference, emphasizing the critical need for increased funding in public education. In an unprecedented move, Governor Stein approved a budget in July that significantly increased teacher salaries, marking the largest average pay raise for educators in two decades. Starting teacher salaries saw an impressive 17% increase, the most substantial in nearly half a century. Despite these strides, North Carolina ranked last in the nation for school funding effort in 2025.
“Our children are our future, so no investment has a stronger return. Unfortunately, if we’re investing toward the bottom of all 50 states, we will struggle to consistently produce students who are at the top,” said Governor Stein. He expressed gratitude to the North Carolina School Boards Association for its ongoing support of students and educators, underscoring the importance of continued investments in education to ensure every child can reach their full potential.
The budget introduces several initiatives aimed at enhancing educational outcomes. The Advanced Teaching Roles program is set to expand, offering seasoned educators leadership opportunities while remaining in the classroom. Moreover, the TeachReadyNC program will broaden pathways into teaching careers through apprenticeships. This initiative aims to bolster early literacy by extending diagnostic reading assessments and literacy intervention strategies in elementary education and providing Science of Reading training for middle school teachers.
In an effort to enhance math proficiency, the budget allocates resources for screening assessments and Mathematics Success Plans targeted at students in underperforming schools from kindergarten to eighth grade. Additionally, the budget supports AI literacy in classroom settings to enrich the educational experience. School safety is also prioritized, with funding directed towards security enhancements like cameras, door locks, fencing, and detection systems.
While the General Assembly’s budget incorporated many of Stein’s proposals, several key initiatives were not addressed. These include free school breakfast for all students, eliminating pay plateaus for veteran teachers to retain experienced educators, increased per-pupil funding, particularly for students with disabilities, and additional funding for school infrastructure repairs and renovations. Governor Stein remains committed to advocating for these essential investments.
Read More Here
Comments are closed.