• John Locke Update

    Teacher Pay: A Look at the Last Decade

    posted June 3, 2021 by Dr. Robert Luebke
    Overall, North Carolina teacher pay has improved despite periods of no or moderate pay increases. North Carolina ranks 34th nationally and 2nd in the Southeast in teacher pay. The increase in teacher benefits — specifically the rising cost of retirement benefits — is the biggest reason for the escalating costs of teacher compensation.
  • John Locke Update

    How much do teachers make in North Carolina? It depends who you ask

    posted April 30, 2021 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    For 2020-21, North Carolina’s average teacher salary is $54,392, which is ranked 34th in the nation according to the National Education Association. The statewide average salary increased by around 21 percent between 2014 and 2021. The NC Association of Educators insists that the calculation of the average is flawed.
  • John Locke Update

    Teachers are staying put, and that’s good news

    posted December 2, 2020 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    Public school advocacy organizations and teacher unions claim that educator attrition data indicate the health of the teaching profession. If that is the case, then they should be pleased that the rate continues to drop.
  • John Locke Update

    Cooper’s bad budget bets

    posted June 3, 2020 by Joseph Coletti
    Gov. Roy Cooper is either the worst gambler around, or his first term has been a classic example of a hustle. He placed big, losing bets on his vetoes of…
  • John Locke Update

    Teacher Pay in North Carolina: Sweet Spots and Sour Notes

    posted April 9, 2019 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    In March, the National Education Association released teacher salary data from its upcoming “Rankings of the States 2018 and Estimates of School Statistics 2019” report. Republican lawmakers welcomed the news…
  • John Locke Update

    N.C. Teachers are Getting Political

    posted May 11, 2018 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    The May 16 teacher gathering in Raleigh is inspired by teacher demonstrations in other states and is energized by the desire of public school advocacy groups to weaken Republican control…
  • John Locke Update

    Despite Surplus, Spending Restraint is Still Required

    posted May 10, 2018 by Joseph Coletti
    On most days and most roads, most drivers treat posted speed limits as the recommended speed. A person driving at the speed limit can be the slowest vehicle moving on…
  • John Locke Update

    Teacher Pay Rankings, Facts, and Figures

    posted April 26, 2018 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    On Monday, the National Education Association (NEA) released their annual Rankings and Estimates report.  According to the report, North Carolina’s average teacher salary for 2018, estimated by NEA researchers…
  • John Locke Update

    Overview of the New N.C. Public Education Budget

    posted June 28, 2017 by Dr. Terry Stoops
    The $23 billion state budget has passed in time for the start of a new fiscal year, and the largest part of that budget – over $9 billion – will…

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