Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina House of Representatives approved step increases and bonuses for public school teachers Wednesday.
Senate Bill 818 provides $350 bonuses for teachers and instructional support personnel. It also encourages the Governor to provide a $600 bonus to teachers, instructional support personnel, and noncertified personnel from the $94 million federal Emergency Education Relief Fund for a total bonus of $950. Bonuses are also provided to principals equal to the amount they received during the 2019-2020 fiscal year.
The legislation also provides teachers, instructional support personnel, and assistant principals with salary step increases based on years of experience. Funding is also provided to support increases in the average salary of public school employee positions.
North Carolina now has the second-highest teacher pay in the Southeast after five consecutive pay raises provided by the Republican-led legislature. The State has moved ahead of 18 others in national educator pay rankings since 2014.
North Carolina faces a historic economic crisis resulting from COVID-19. Responsible fiscal policies under Republican leadership have positioned the State to be able to provide bonuses and salary increases for teachers during an economic downturn, preventing a repeat of 2009 when poor budgeting forced the State to cut teacher pay and furlough teachers amid the Great Recession.
State House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said the General Assembly was continuing its commitment to educators that made North Carolina competitive in educator pay.
“Thanks to smart budgeting, North Carolina can weather the historic revenue shortfalls caused by the economic shutdown and still reward educators with salary step increases and bonuses instead of the pay cuts and furloughs of previous crises,” Speaker Moore said.
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