We appreciate Gov. Easley¹s continued strong leadership and support for public education for North Carolinians.
There is no better investment in the future than to assure that our citizens have the education they need to be prepared for successful life in the 21st century. We know that means education beyond high school and a new way of thinking about preparation for the future. This budget will enable more young people to go to college and takes a major step toward the national average for teacher salaries. We are especially pleased that this budget invests in efforts such as pre-kindergarten, literacy coaches, and high school reform to ensure all students have the skills they need to succeed. These are critical needs as we strengthen high school requirements and raise expectations for North Carolina young people.