RALEIGH (May 10, 2024) – A new statewide campaign from a nonprofit group aims to build support for state legislators to significantly raise teacher pay in North Carolina.

“North Carolinians value our teachers,” said Paul Fulton, Chair of Public Ed Works. “They are essential to our democracy and our economy. And they deserve our respect, our support and better pay.”

Public Ed Works is a nonprofit organization that advocates for better support of public education in North Carolina, from pre-school through grad school.

The campaign, launched during Teacher Appreciation Week, features billboards statewide that proclaim: “Better Pay for NC Teachers – They Deserve It!” More information is available at PayNCTeachers.com.

The National Education Association recently. found that average pay for K-12 public school teachers in North Carolina slipped to 38^th among the states in 2022-23. NEA estimates that North Carolina has slipped even further in 2023-24, to 41^st in average teacher pay.¹

Starting teacher pay in North Carolina gained slightly in 2022-23, from 46^th to 42^nd. Even West Virginia pays starting teachers more. The only Southeastern state that pays starting teachers less is Arkansas.

More than 10,000 teachers – 11.5% of the state’s 90,000 teachers – left North Carolina classrooms in 2023. That’s the highest total in two decades.²

A statewide poll last month found that 78% of North Carolina voters think K-12 public school teachers deserve a bigger raise than the 3% they are currently scheduled to receive in 2024-25.

“There are many issues with public education, but none are bigger or more impactful than competitive pay for our teachers,” said Fulton.  “North Carolina can do better – far better – for its teachers.”

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¹ https://www.nea.org/resource-library/educator-pay-and-student-spending-how-does-your-state-rank/teacher.
² https://www.wral.com/story/nc-teacher-turnover-hits-highest-mark-in-decades-new-report-shows-changes-in-who-is-leading-classrooms/21361469/.