Education remains one of the main priorities of government in North Carolina and this year, even as we faced challenges in our economy, the General Assembly continued its strong investment in public schools.
More than half of the state’s budget is spent on K-12 education, community colleges and public universities. Most of that money — $7.8 billion in this fiscal year — is spent on public schools. Our investment in this area pays off in a number of ways as more students graduate from high school and go to college and beyond. This year, we expanded our investment in a new dropout prevention program and in the state’s acclaimed More at Four preschool program, created a teacher mentoring program and continued to look for ways to improve technology. I will explain some of these programs in a little more detail below. The list is not comprehensive but should give you an idea of how we value education.
Thank you as always for your interest in state government, and please let me know if I can be of any service. I look forward to continuing to work with you to best serve the people of our district.
Salaries and Bonuses
Teachers in North Carolina received an average pay increase of 3 percent this year. I wish we could have given them and our state employees larger raises, but growth in the state this year was slower than in previous years and we had less money available for raises. The raise was one of the largest raises in the Southeast this fiscal year as other states experience economic slowdowns and followed an average pay increase of 5 percent last year. Starting pay now for a teacher with a bachelor’s degree is about $31,000 a year, and average pay in North Carolina ranks second in the Southeast. This year, we allowed the State Board of Education to spend up to $94 million for teacher bonuses for student performance. Unlike previous years, we capped the amount so that we could ensure the state had money to pay the millions more needed for higher fuel costs.
More at Four
We realize that much of our children’s success in school depends on what they learn before they get to school. For that reason, we continue to invest in preschool programs such as Smart Start and More at Four. This year, the state budget includes $30 million to expand the More at Four program, a high-quality pre-kindergarten program that serves thousands of at-risk children in our state.
Dropout Prevention
While we have made many improvements in our schools, too many of our students still fail to graduate. Last year, the General Assembly created a new dropout prevention grant program that awarded a total of $7 million to more than 60 community-based programs. This year, we expanded the program by putting another $15 million into it. The programs work with dropouts and those at risk of dropping out. The new Joint Legislative Commission on Dropout Prevention and High School Graduation will evaluate the programs that receive grants and decide whether expanding or replicating them will improve graduation rates in the state. The commission will also review research on student success, study major middle and high school reform efforts and how they may influence the dropout rate, review the courses required for graduation and determine whether changes should be made and determine which strategies best help students remain in school when they are at risk of being retained.
Technology
The state’s base budget includes $12 million to pay for a plan to provide information technology infrastructure in our schools. We increased that amount by $10 million in an effort to improve schools’ abilities to use up-to-date technology in our classrooms. Over the past two fiscal years, the General Assembly provided $4.5 million for a pilot program that provides laptop computers to all teachers and students in eight high schools.
Mentoring
The legislature increased its investment in teacher mentoring programs this year by $3 million. The money will be used to help establish a flexible program to serve all first and second-year teachers as well as first-year instructional support personnel. Under a plan approved by the State Board of Education, school systems will be allowed to use the money for programs it believes will best serve beginning teachers.
Teacher Leave
The General Assembly budgeted $5 million this year to allow every teacher in the state one free personal leave day. Previously, teachers had to pay to cover the cost of a substitute any time they used a personal leave day. The General Assembly also approved a change in the law that prohibits school systems from charging teachers for personal leave days taken when students are not in school. The estimated statewide savings for teachers is more than $200,000.
Miscellaneous
Some inquiries have been received in my legislative office regarding the use of cell phones while driving. Staff in our Research Division shared the below information regarding this issue:
There is not now, and has never been, a State law prohibition on cell phone use by adults.
Please note the below two laws relating to cell phone use by drivers under the age of 18 and by schools bus drivers.
Cell Phone Use by Drivers under 18 Prohibited
S.L. 2006-177 (SB 1289) prohibits a person under the age of 18 from using a mobile telephone while operating a motor vehicle on a public street, highway, or public vehicular area. The prohibition does not apply to a stationary vehicle. The prohibition extends to both handheld and hands-free phones, as well as other technology associated with a mobile telephone such as emails, games, or digital cameras associated with the phone. The prohibition does not extend to the use of a mobile telephone to call:
A violation is an infraction for which the driver would be assessed a fine of $25. The driver will not have to pay court costs and will not be assessed insurance or drivers license points. A person with a Level 1 or Level 2 limited provisional license will remain for an additional 6 months at his or her current level of graduated license.
This act becomes effective December 1, 2006, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
Ban Cell Phone Use by School Bus Drivers
S.L. 2007-261 (HB 183) makes it unlawful to use a mobile telephone or additional technology that provides access to digital media such as a camera, electronic mail, music, the Internet, or games, while operating a public or private school bus, while operating a school activity bus, or while transporting students in any vehicle for hire. A violation of this law is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $100. There is an exception for use of a mobile telephone in an emergency situation.
This act becomes effective December 1, 2007, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
Meetings/Events
I plan to attend the following meetings/events:
Please invite me to attend your county, city, community or civic, etc. meetings or events.
As I’ve said many times before, I hope you will continue to let me know how you feel about the issues that are being debated by the North Carolina Legislature and the challenges you and your family are facing each day.
By working together, we can make Northampton, Vance and Warren Counties and all regions of North Carolina a better place to live, work and raise a family.
For more information, please visit the General Assembly’s website.