The National Education Association published their updated “Rankings & Estimates” report on teacher pay, public school expenditures, and the like.
In unadjusted teacher pay, North Carolina dropped from 22nd to 27th in the state by state ranking (from 2003-04 and 2004-05). There was little or no change in the other categories, including expenditures, revenues, and student-teacher ratio. Expect the public school establishment to begin their squawking about “low” teacher pay in North Carolina, but only after they get back from their week and a half of paid Christmas vacation.
Nationally, the average teacher pay increased 2.3%, expenditures per student increased 3.7%, total expenditures increased 4.7%, and total revenue increase 4.1%. That is a growth industry!