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Below are a few highlights of the K-12 education budget released Monday by the Joint Conference Committee Report on the Base, Expansion, and Capital Budgets.  If you need more detailed information, state budget documents can be accessed here

CommenTerry

Republican legislative leaders finally unveiled their proposed biennial state budget.  (Geez, it’s about time, folks.)  The budget is now subject to votes by each legislative chamber and action by Governor McCrory. 

Legislators will make minor technical changes to the budget upon ratification.  Substantive decreases of increases in education funding, however, may occur when they meet for their "short session" next year.  Much will depend on the revenue outlook for the state and the perceived needs of various state entities.

Overall, the proposed budget would INCREASE state appropriations for K-12 education from $8.1 billion to $8.5 billion.  Much of the $410.7 million boost for FY 2015-16 would be used for teacher assistant positions, teacher compensation increases, and student enrollment growth.

The budget features the following provisions:

  • Continuing teachers will advance one level or step on the state salary schedule, while new teachers will receive a $2,000 increase to their base pay.  This requires a recurring state appropriation of over $62 million.
  • In addition to a step increase, most teachers will receive a $750 bonus.  Over $79.5 million would be set aside for the one-time bonuses.  I suspect that lawmakers will offer permanent teacher pay raises next year.
  • Taking into account existing and expansion funds, all teacher assistant positions will be fully funded for the next two years at an ongoing cost of $377.1 million per year.
  • Over $24 million has been set aside for driver education for the current school year only.  This is a signal to school districts that the state will not fund driver education in subsequent years.
  • Over the next two years, approximately $114.4 million in existing and expansion funds will go towards instructional materials for schools.  Another $53.8 million will ensure that all K-12 public school buildings in the state have quality broadband connectivity.
  • The budget also adds $20 million a year for Read to Achieve reading camps for struggling first- and second-grade students.
  • The budget allocates $26.9 million so that districts can hire more elementary school teachers for the 2016-17 school year.  The goal is to decrease class sizes in first-grade classrooms.
  • Approximately $100 million in recurring funds will be used to accommodate projected student enrollment growth for the current school year.  Legislators plan to appropriate an additional $100 million next year for this purpose.
  • Finally, the budget will boost funding to accommodate the strong demand for the Opportunity Scholarships.  Combining recurring funds and proposed increases, a total of $17.6 million in FY 2015-16 and $24.8 million in FY 2016-17 will be available to provide $4,200 per year vouchers to low-income students.  Unfortunately, the program that provides private school vouchers to special needs children will receive a nominal funding increase.

We’ll hear the usual complaints from public school advocacy organizations and their allies.  In an email sent to supporters yesterday afternoon, Progress NC Action declared that the proposed budget "doubles down on the failed policies that have thrown our schools into crisis" and that "schools are starved of classroom resources." Given the substantial increases in K-12 education spending incorporated into this budget, it is a bit difficult to take their manufactured indignation seriously.

Acronym of the Week

RTA — Read to Achieve

Quote of the Week

"I feel a little confused and concerned because I thought there were going to be some better things coming from this budget."

– Activist and Durham County teacher Dov Rosenberg quoted in WTVD, "Chamber votes beginning for final North Carolina state budget," September 15, 2015

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