{"id":475,"date":"2026-06-17T04:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=475"},"modified":"2026-06-17T04:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T04:06:18","slug":"nc-democrats-unveil-teacher-pay-bill-focused-on-retaining-veteran-educators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northcarolinamovingjournal.com\/?p=475","title":{"rendered":"NC Democrats unveil teacher pay bill focused on retaining veteran educators"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a teacher pay bill that would give larger raises to veteran educators, arguing that North Carolina has spent years recruiting new teachers while doing too little to keep experienced ones in the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

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would overhaul North Carolina\u2019s teacher salary schedule, restore extra pay for teachers with master\u2019s degrees,\u00a0 protect teacher workdays from administrative tasks, and give local school boards more control over academic calendars.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor years, we focused our attention on recruiting new teachers, and recruitment matters,\u201d said Rep. Amanda Cook (D-Guilford) a former public school teacher and the bill\u2019s primary sponsor. \u201cWe absolutely need talented young people entering the profession, but recruitment alone cannot solve our problem if our experienced teachers continue to leave. Veteran teachers are the backbone of our schools.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Republican lawmakers recently proposed an average 8% teacher pay raise over two years. Under that plan, beginning teacher pay would rise to $48,000, while teachers with 15 to 24 years of experience would receive a 5.5% increase.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs best we can tell, (this is) the largest average teacher pay increase at least since 2006, and one of the largest that we\u2019ve seen in probably the last 30 years or so,\u201d House Speaker Destin Hall said during a press conference last month announcing the plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cook said North Carolina\u2019s current pay structure leaves many teachers with little salary growth during the middle years of their careers, when they often take on mentoring and leadership responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teachers who joined Cook at Tuesday\u2019s news conference said the state\u2019s salary schedule makes it difficult to retain experienced educators.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline Brickhouse, a Durham Public Schools teacher entering her 15th year in the classroom, said teachers can go a decade without a raise.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you know anything about the state of North Carolina, then you know that from years 15 to 25 our pay is stagnant,\u201d Brickhouse said. \u201cFor 10 years, we go without a raise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brickhouse, who mentors beginning teachers at her school, said many new educators tell her they plan to teach in North Carolina for only a few years before moving on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kelly VanHorn, a Mecklenburg County teacher, pointed to state data showing teacher attrition rates between 14% to 18% during the 2024-25 school year. Replacing a teacher can cost districts about $25,000, she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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State Board of Education warns proposed NC teacher pay plan leaves veterans behind<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n