RESTORING RESPECT TO EDUCATORS
Using the backdrop of National Teacher Day this week, NCAE called on state lawmakers to undo some of the harmful education policies passed in recent years to restore respect to public school educators and the education profession.
During a press conference at the General Assembly, NCAE leaders, members, and key legislators stood together in agreement that every child deserves an opportunity to be successful and North Carolina’s public school educators are making that happen each day. On Thursday, NCAE President Rodney Ellis also addressed the House Education Appropriations Committee about restoring respect to the education profession. With average teacher pay and per-pupil spending rankings in the bottom tier of the nation, teacher turnover rates at historical high levels, and the enrollment in our education training programs at our universities at dangerously low levels, we must restore respect in order to recruit and retain educators.
“Educators are every day heroes who are providing opportunities for students to be successful,” said NCAE President Rodney Ellis. “If some of our basketball teams were ranked 42nd or worse, there would be a state of emergency declared. North Carolina faces a teacher shortage crisis, and instead of using surplus budgets to invest in our public school students, educators, and schools, some in the General Assembly have prioritized rewarding corporations and the wealthy with more tax breaks.”
NCAE called on lawmakers to:
- Ensure that every child, regardless of Zip code, has an opportunity to reach their fullest potential
- Develop a comprehensive plan to improve per-pupil spending to at least the national average and maintain it
- Develop a comprehensive plan to improve per-pupil spending to at least the national average and to maintain it
- Develop a comprehensive plan to professionally compensate education support professionals, principals, and assistant principals
- Restore basic due process employment rights to ALL educators
- Restore master’s pay and restore longevity pay as a separate bonus
- Restore textbook, technology, and instructional resource funding to pre-recession levels
- Eliminate or modify the current A-F grading system of schools, recognizing that student growth is disproportionately undervalued
- Maintain the Defined Benefit Contribution plan and protect other health and retirement benefits for educators
- Fund a scholarship program for college students preparing to become public school teachers
- Invest in professional development opportunities for educators
- Commit to visiting public school classrooms and talking with pubic school educators
EDUCATORS AND NCAE RECOGNIZED IN HOUSE AND SENATE
On National Teacher Day, NCAE members, leaders, and other educators were recognized during Senate and House sessions. Senators Angela Bryant, Erica Smith-Ingram, and Terry Van Duyn submitted a Senatorial Statement in recognition of public school educators and it was also read on the House floor. Several lawmakers took Points of Personal Privilege to speak about the importance of educators, including House Education and Education Appropriations Chair Rep. Craig Horn.
“We all greatly respect those who become teachers and stand in front of 30 children with the genuine desire to see them all thrive, including those whose behaviour sometimes overwhelms and casts doubts on their own ability. Each one of us will always remember the teachers and professors who truly made a difference in our lives.”
House Democratic Leader Larry Hall and other legislators presented NCAE with a signed picture in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week.
FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS AT RISK OVER HB2
The U.S. Department of Justice notified Gov. McCrory on Wednesday that House Bill 2 violates the Civil Rights Act and Title IX. The department gave state officials until Monday to respond and confirm the state will not comply with or implement HB 2. The letter states that HB 2 violates Title IX, which bars discrimination in education based on sex, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which bans employment discrimination. North Carolina could lose significant federal funding over the issue. State public schools received $861 million this year, and the UNC system received $1.4 billion last year. Loss of federal funding could dramatically impact child nutrition and school lunch programs, programs for students with disabilities, and for homeless students. It’s unclear what the state response will be at this point. House Speaker Tim Moore said that deadline will come and go without a response, but the governor’s office said they will respond in some way by Monday.
NO RETENTION ELECTION FOR NOW
A divided North Carolina Supreme Court means a recent ruling disallowing a simple up-or-down vote, or a retention election, on a sitting justice would stand. The General Assembly passed legislation last year allowing Supreme Court justices to run in retention elections with no opposition. The new law would have let Justice Bob Edmunds appear on this year’s ballot by himself, with voters being asked to keep him or remove him.
A private sector lawyer who wants to run for the seat challenged that the law unconstitutionally blocked her from running for the office. A special Superior Court panel of judges ruled in her favor and the case was appealed to the N.C. Supreme Court.
Justice Edmunds recused himself from participating, setting up the 3-3 split by the Court. The split decision will mean the Superior Court ruling will stand and the June 7 election will proceed with four candidates on the ballot. The top two finishers will face off again in the November General Election.
SPENDING TARGET AGREEMENT
Senate and House budget writers announced agreement this week to a $22.2 billion spending limit for the coming fiscal year. That amount is below Gov. McCrory’s proposed budget of $22.8 billion. The agreement will make it difficult for state lawmakers to make significant investments in classroom resources and in educator pay increases.
House Appropriations subcommittees will now start piecing together their sections of the budget, with budget reports expected to go to the full House Appropriations Committee by the end of next week.
CHARTER FUNDING ENCROACHMENTS
Thanks for your e-mails and phone calls this week to lawmakers in response to our Action Alert on Wednesday. We learned that charter school advocates were at the General Assembly lobbying hard for the House to take up House Bill 539 on Thursday. Thankfully, we have a short reprieve as the House did not move on the bill this week. If no changes are made, the bill would only take a one-day concurrence vote before heading to the governor. This bill is bad news for public schools and can be devastating for students. It forces local school districts to share program-specific funding with charter schools, even if charters don’t offer the service. At the same time, it allows charter schools to keep every cent of their own program-specific money.
House Bill 539 would destroy the balance in public school funding at the expense of traditional public school students. NCAE opposed HB 539 as it’s currently written.
Remember, this started off as a well-meaning bill to allow public access to school playgrounds and was co-sponsored by many pro-public education legislators. Senate Republicans “gutted” the bill and sent it back to the House with the charter school provisions. Many of these co-sponsors in the House do not approve of these changes, even though their names are still attached to the bill.
You can also view a great video about this issue by visiting our Facebook Page.
LOTTERY FUNDS FOR STUDENT LOANS
Several House Democrats say the state lottery windfall from the Powerball frenzy this year should be used to help keep teachers in North Carolina classrooms. By statute, that money has to be spent this year, and it cannot be used for recurring expenses such as salaries. House Bill 1031 would use the $39 million to create the “N.C. Teacher HELP Fund” to help pay off student debt. Teachers could apply for up to $10,000 from the fund to pay off student debt. In return, recipients would agree to stay in a North Carolina classroom for four years. It’s estimated the money could provide debt relief to 3,800 teachers. House Bill 1031 is sponsored by Representatives Graig Meyer (D-Orange), Ed Hanes (D-Forsyth), Bobbie Richardson (D-Franklin), and Brad Salmon (D-Harnett).
HIGHER TEACHER PAY BILL FILED BY SENATE DEMS
Senate Democrats filed Senate Bill 816 this week that would provide a 10 percent increase to educators over four years. Earlier this year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. June Atkinson called for a 10 percent increase to help recruit and retain educators. The bill is unlikely to get any traction this year because House Speaker Tim Moore has said it would be closer to 2 percent and House and Senate budget writers agreed to a 2.2 percent spending limit this year. Senate Bill 816 is sponsored by Senators Joyce Waddell (D-Mecklenburg), Dan Blue (D-Wake), Paul Lowe (D-Forsyth), and Terry Van Duyn (D-Buncombe).
NEWS FROM THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATON
Nearly 102,000 educators participated in the 2016 Teacher Working Conditions Survey. There was an 85.4 percent statewide response rate with 1,076 schools having a 100 percent response rate. Results of the survey will be presented to the State Board of Education in June. For more SBE news, click here.
HELP US BY GOING “ALL IN” FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
We will see some of you in Raleigh tomorrow. Thank you to those of you who signed up. If we are going to be successful turning the tide for public education this November, our work must begin now. We must be “All In” for public education and help elect pro-public education candidates at all levels.
Tomorrow’s session will be held from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and lunch will be provided for members who have signed up in advance. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop and phone.
ELECTION CALENDAR
Sep. 9, 2016 Absentee Voting Begins for General Election
Oct.14, 2016 Voter Registration Ends for General Election
Oct. 27, 2016 Early Voting Begins for General Election
Nov. 5, 2016 Early Voting Ends for General Election
Nov. 8, 2016 General Election
ENDORSEMENTS
NCAE’s member-led endorsement process is underway. Legislative candidate surveys have been distributed to local affiliate presidents over the last two weeks. If you did not receive materials, check your spam box or your local may not have had candidates turn in a survey. If you have questions, contact NCAE Government Relations at 919-832-3000, ext. 211.
Begin planning screening dates this month.
For legislative districts that cross multiple local affiliate lines, all locals must be involved in the process. We would like to have recommendations to consider before school is out.
In addition, many locals will be working on endorsements for county commissioner and school board races. If you need help creating a questionnaire for those local races or have questions about screenings, contact NCAE Government Relations.
OTHER BILLS OF INTEREST:
House 1016 Funds for Education Training Centers
House 1026 Collaboration of State Agencies/Early Educ.
House 1034 Restore Senior Citizen Tuition Waiver
House 1046 Constitutional Amendment/Up Minimum Wage
House 1049 Fund NBPTS Certification
Senate 800 Study Costs Associated with NC Pre-K Slots
Senate 811 Lottery Funds for School Construction