Dear Friend of MeckEd,
The North Carolina House and Senate have found a compromise on the 2012-13 education budget and the final result is far from stellar for our students, teachers, families, and the long-term health of the state economy. Our legislators have decided to implement a new reading program copied from Florida, and unlike Florida they have chosen to launch the initiative without including reading coaches and teacher training in the budget.
There are other major gaps in our education budget for next year that also deserve to be highlighted: teachers workdays will be reduced to a total of three, there will be no funding next year for teacher mentors, the NCCAT (NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching) budget has been significantly cut, state funding for local professional development has been cut, and the state has abolished the Teaching Fellows Program.
Read more: Budget Passed by Legislature
There is no magic bullet or quick-fix to improve our public schools. Our long-term success must come from a commitment to employ a long-term strategy that will support the teaching profession, reduce class size, and provide much needed professional development.
