NCAE Hopes Governor's 2011-12 Budget Proposal Reflects Commitment Made to Public Education in Tonight's State of the State Address

RALEIGH, N.C., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NCAE President Sheri Strickland's response to the 2011 State of the State address by North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue:

"Tonight, Governor Perdue said she will not back down on her commitment to our children. Every child has a right to a basic, sound, quality public education – No governor has ever walked away from that core responsibility. She pledged she will not back down from that same principle. NCAE was pleased to hear Governor Perdue say she will not cut any state-supported teacher or teacher assistant positions.  She resolutely stated that she will not eliminate teachers, whose job it is to build the future of this state.

"With these expressed commitments to public education, the 60,000 members of NCAE hope that our governor's upcoming budget proposal will reflect her words, and offer the citizens of our state a budget which protects the classroom, does not put any educators on the unemployment rolls, and wisely invests in North Carolina's future – our children.

"Our members understand that difficult choices are required of our top elected officials; but we ask that elected leaders not turn a budget deficit into an 'education deficit.' With projections that lessen the shortfall and smart revenue and savings choices available, we can hold harmless public education in North Carolina."

NCAE is the state's largest education association, representing nearly 60,000 active, retired and student members.

SOURCE North Carolina Association of Educators