One Voice Rally on May 3 Gaining Momentum as Current Budget Proposals Could Push North Carolina to Last in the Nation for Per-pupil Expenditure

RALEIGH, N.C., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly all 100 counties in North Carolina have signed up to send representatives to Raleigh on May 3 to attend NCAE's One Voice rally at the Bicentennial Mall across from the North Carolina General Assembly. May 3 is also National Teacher Day, an observance that honors the critical role teachers play in the lives of children.

"Word is getting out to educators, parents and concerned citizens that proposals in the General Assembly to cut public education funding in North Carolina will push us to dead last in the nation for per-pupil expenditure," said NCAE President Sheri Strickland. "North Carolina is facing a crisis. After making so much progress, and ranking 21st in the nation for per-pupil expenditure in the mid-1990s, we've fallen to 46th in the nation currently. More cuts to education will have negative implications for the state's business climate and threaten our long-term economic competitiveness."

North Carolina has already lost 15,000 jobs in public education over the last two years. The budget proposal from the North Carolina House of Representatives would cut an additional 18,532 jobs.

Those cuts include:

• 4,056 Teachers
• 11,086 Teacher Assistants
• 640 Principals and Assistant Principals
• 870 Instructional Support Jobs
• 1,190 Bus Drivers and Custodians
• 690 Administrative and Clerical Jobs

WHAT: NCAE One Voice Rally

WHERE: Bicentennial Mall

Across from the North Carolina General Assembly

16 West Jones St.

Raleigh, NC

WHEN: Rally begins at 4 p.m.

4 - 4:45 p.m. Rally participants visit the General Assembly

5 p.m. NCAE president Sheri Strickland officially convenes One Voice Rally

5 - 5:45 p.m. Guest speakers include: State Superintendent June Atkinson; Debra Horton, executive director, NC PTA; Students from Halifax, Lee and Wake counties

5:45 - 6:10 p.m. Special guest speaker(s) – TBA

6:10 - 6:40 p.m. Guest speakers include Dr. Donald Martin, superintendent of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools; North Carolina NAACP President Dr. William Barber; and NCAE representatives

WHO: Educators, parents, students and community members from across the state. Ninety-six of North Carolina's 100 counties are sending participants to the event. More than 2,000 people have registered via www.onevoicerally.com. PTAs/PTOs, local NCAE affiliates and community organizations are organizing carpools, vans and school activity buses to bring attendees to Raleigh.

NCAE is the state's largest education association representing nearly 60,000 active, retired and student members. Visit www.onevoicerally.com for more information or to register to attend.

SOURCE North Carolina Association of Educators