Senate Education Plan Released Today Needs Reform

RALEIGH, N.C., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  "The major education reform bill filed today by the Senate needs much reform itself," said NCAE President Sheri Strickland. "While it attacks virtually every aspect of public education in North Carolina, it is woefully short on knowledge and comprehension."

NCAE calls on the NC Legislature to raise teacher salaries to recruit and retain quality educators; to further reduce unnecessary testing and paperwork requirements freeing up instructional time; hiring back the thousands of education professionals who have been laid off; and most importantly spending time outside of the state capital and inside schools and classes to really fully understand what goes on there.

"We already have a comprehensive new teacher evaluation program, school report cards and a Teacher Corps under development to help schools at-risk," NCAE President Sheri Strickland said. "What we need is a better financial commitment to our schools to raise teacher pay up from its currently dismal ranking of 41st in the nation, lower class size, and build on the success and quality we already have in place."

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

SOURCE North Carolina Association of Educators