Public education is undergoing a death by 1,000 cuts. It's been happening slowly, surely, over time. For four consecutive years, the state budget for K-12 public education has been cut. We are currently operating under a budget that is 11 percent less than was spent in 2007-08, despite the fact that student enrollment has grown by approximately 16,000 students. As noted in the Public School Forum of NC's recent school finance study, "If public education were funded at the same percentage of the General Fund as it was in FY 1969-70, schools would have an additional $2.7 billion for our students." Now we see a series of bills that, if passed, will drain the life from North Carolina's public schools. Some folks might not even notice what is going on, because it's been happening in small measured steps. But if you put all the pieces together, it's simply appalling. |
No more pencils, no more books. Teaching positions have not grown at the same rate as our public school student population. Since 2009, the number of total full time public school personnel has been in a steady decline. Our public schools havelost 17,278 positions and laid off 6,167 people--35 percent teachers and another 33 percent teaching assistants; not to mention other central office, school administration, and teaching positions eliminated by local school districts. All of this has occurred as we transition to the Common Core curriculum, new tests, a new school accountability model, and the number of high-needs students requiring additional resources climbs. Since 2009 we've even seen the textbook fund cut by 80 percent. 48 out of 50, just ahead of Mississippi We have the sad distinction of being ranked 48th in both per-pupil spending and teacher salary. As NCAE President Rodney Ellis said, "North Carolina was once at the national median (25th) in teacher pay in 2008 when teachers earned an average salary of $48,648. Now, the average North Carolina teacher earns nearly $3,000 less per year and it is hurting our state's ability to hire and retain quality educators." In fact since 2008, more than 4,000 educators have left the profession during their first three years of teaching. More students, more challenges, fewer resources. Despite the odds, teachers are doing more with less--and succeeding. Graduation rates are up; dropout rates are at their lowest level ever.  |
The dam is about to burst. Little by little, recent legislation is threatening to further de-fund our already strained public school system. First, a 2012 bill lifted the cap on charter schools, opening the floodgates to unregulated schools--many with spotty academic results. This year alone, 70 applications for new charter schools have been received. In the current legislative session we have seen: • Homeschool Education Income Tax Credit: would drain at least $200 million from our public schools by offering a $1,250 tax credit per semester for every home schooled child meeting the criteria. • Start-up Funds For New Charter Schools: sets aside $1.575 million for an interest-free revolving loan fund for new charter schools. • Children with Disabilities Scholarship Grants: Awards a $3,000 grant per semester for students with disabilities to attend any nonpublic school and to receive special education and related services. A low figure to adequately educate students with disabilities, the bill has no requirement to show academic growth. These programs will take hard-earned tax dollars out of our public schools and will weaken their ability to serve ALL children. And there are many other bills coming, including a broader proposal for vouchers. High-quality public education is the best tool we have to create the most opportunity for the most people across North Carolina. We cannot keep cutting funding to public education to create two separate and unequal systems--one public, one private. Let's not abandon the 1.5 million students, 90,000 teachers, and 2,200 teaching assistants who are the heart of public education. It's time to demand an end to more cuts and to restore public school funding. We can continue to improve and move forward if we keep our public tax dollars invested in public education! ----------------------------- Our thanks to: NC Policy Watch, NCAE, NCGA Fiscal Research Division, Public Schools Forum of NC, NC Department of Public Instruction, and Progress NC for helping us to present the facts. |
Read our op-ed in the Raleigh News & Observer by Karey Harwood & Patty Williams Have a favorite teacher? Please share this survey! What makes a teacher stay in the classroom and what causes a teacher to make a change? |
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