Written by ASSOCIATED PRESS
The North Carolina Board of Education on Thursday backed a gradual approach to moving ahead with a potential teacher licensing overhaul, including higher instructor salaries based on merit rather than years of experience.
The board voted without objection motion It is envisioned in part to pilot or test new licensing and performance programs before they can be implemented statewide, media reported.
Ultimately, formal legislative approval of the General Assembly is required to move this idea forward and provide short- and long-term funding. Board leaders said creating pilots in specific school districts could go a long way toward a successful statewide restructuring of licensing.
Board Chairman Eric Davis said Wednesday during a broader discussion of the proposal that “if we have a working proof-of-concept demonstration by piloting this in districts across the state, it’s a much more powerful way to win the day.” It will generate controversy,” he said.
The state’s Commission on Professional Educator Preparation and Standards has been looking since last year for ways to overhaul a licensing system that critics say has failed to retain veteran teachers and significantly improve student learning. .
Thursday’s motion called on the committee to submit, by March, proposals for policies or rules needed to implement a pilot program or test some elements within a broader scope. “Blueprint for Action” that The committee barely endorsed last month. The General Assembly will convene in January and will likely remain in Raleigh until early summer.
A draft statewide plan reviewed by the commission this year would shift from a salary system for licensed teachers primarily based on experience to one based on different types of licenses.
Teachers can move to higher licenses and increase their salaries accordingly by proving their effectiveness through student test scores, principal reviews, or student surveys, among other tools .
The current basic teacher salary schedule ranges from $37,000 to $54,000. The creators of the tiered licensing system assume salaries for apprentice teachers of $30,000 to a minimum of $56,000 for “professional teachers.”
The proposal also calls for a 1{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} annual experience point raise. $5,000 per year or he $10,000 scholarship for senior teachers who undertake additional duties. Fully restore high salaries for teachers with master’s degrees.
Teachers are now at the top of the base salary ladder with 25 years of experience.
“This model seeks to fix many of the deficiencies of the overly complex and burdensome licensing process, which considers only teacher compensation from a statewide perspective based on years of experience,” said the commission. Kathryn Truitt, superintendent of public education and member.
Some educators wary of the proposal say it will lead teachers to quit rather than stay in the profession. Some say it’s not ready yet because most teachers’ assessment methods have not yet been finalized. It is also unclear what will happen to teachers who do not meet performance standards.
Leah Carper, this year’s state teacher of the year and board adviser, said Wednesday that some colleagues could only approve a partial overhaul of her licensure, including demanding more significant assessments, and her salary He said he was worried that an increase in the number would not be approved.
But Davis said pursuing a pilot first could be a better argument for lawmakers not to create piecemeal programs.
Photo via Peyton Sickles.
