By Shanteya Hudson, September 10, 2024
Classroom supplies are taking a toll on teachers in North Carolina.
A new survey showed despite earning around 5% less than they did a decade ago, North Carolina teachers are spending the fourth-highest amount in the country on school supplies.
Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, said teachers are dipping into their own pockets due to insufficient state funding for instructional materials.
“Educators in North Carolina are spending about $1,300 of their own money, $400 more than the national average,” Walker Kelly pointed out. “We continue to see that rise amongst our educators here in the state. “
She noted the association is urging state legislators to invest in school supplies and reinstate the state’s Tax Holiday to help teachers and parents save money. There have also been calls from Attorney General and Democratic nominee for Governor Josh Stein to introduce a plan to reduce back-to-school costs.
Walker Kelly emphasized the rising expenses are coupled with low teacher salaries. North Carolina, currently ranked 38th in average teacher pay, is projected to drop to 41st by the 2024-25 school year, according to the National Education Association.
She contended financial pressures have led to staffing shortages, which ultimately affect students’ learning experiences.
“We know that our state Legislature could make that investment,” Walker Kelly asserted. “That’s why we are continuing to advocate for that because we see record numbers of educators flee to South Carolina and to Virginia and to Georgia because of that $10,000 pay difference.”
She also highlighted the issue of salary stagnation for veteran educators with 15 or more years of experience. The top salary on North Carolina’s teacher pay scale is just over $61,000, which teachers reach after 25 years. Between years 15 and 24, there is no growth in pay, leaving veteran teachers without raises for nearly a decade.
References: School supply costs Deloitte 07/15/2024
This article is republished from Public News Service under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here.
