May 23, 2016
Late last week, the North Carolina House of Representatives demonstrated strong support for key education reforms with the addition of nearly $36 million to the second year of the state’s two-year budget. The additional funds would be used to provide school choice options for more students with special needs, literacy coaches who would train teachers to help struggling readers in elementary school and bonuses for teachers who help students succeed in advanced and industry certification courses.
North Carolina’s leaders have truly made education a top priority in the state. Read on for the highlights.
Increasing Options for Students with Special Needs
North Carolina’s Special Education Scholarship Grants provide vouchers of up to $8,000 a year that can be used to cover private school tuition or homeschool services for students with unique education needs. The amended House budget adds $5.8 million to more than double the number of students that can participate in the program. This means more families, regardless of zip code or income level, would have a choice in determining the best education pathway for their children.
Bringing in Literacy Coaches
The House demonstrated its commitment to early literacy with $25 million in additional funding for literacy coaches in the bottom 20 percent of elementary schools. The coaches would train teachers to become master teachers of reading, ensuring all students read on grade level by the end of third grade and setting them up for success in fourth grade and beyond.
Preparing for College and Career
The House added $4.3 million in incentives for teachers teaching Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in which students earn a 3 or higher on AP exams or a 4 or higher on IB tests. The amended budget also includes $600,000 in bonuses for teachers of industry certification classes – $25 to $50 per teacher for each student who earns an industry certification tied to workforce demand. Access to advanced coursework and opportunities to learn a skill in a high-demand, high-wage industry means students will be ready for today’s careers, teachers will be rewarded financially for student success and North Carolina’s economy will be able to rely on a homegrown talent pipeline.
We commend House Appropriations Education Subcommittee Co-Chairs Hugh Blackwell, Rob Bryan and Craig Horn and House leadership for pursuing a student-driven budget. Investing in education today will create a prepared workforce for tomorrow, and one that is ready to lead in the global economy.
