Best teachers and most-needy kids rarely meet in NC

According to a news release in January, 2007, the best teachers and "high-needs" kids rarely mix in the state school system. The report states "North Carolina leads the nation with teachers who hold a national credential, considered the gold standard of the profession. The national board announced recently that more than 1,500 teachers in the state earned certification this year, the most in the nation, pushing the total number in the state to more than 11,000. A large part of the reason is a pay incentive matched by few other states."

NC teachers with national certification earn an extra 12 percent on top of their annual salary, regardless of where they teach, giving them upwards of $5,000 additional pay each year."

It's time for the state to make sure all students have teachers of the highest quality and provide the best education possible for all in order to allow NC to build the skilled work force it needs to remain competitive in the future.

For additional information about education in North Carolina see also the 2006 Education Update Report published by the North Carolina Progress Board.

News and Observer
January 23, 2007
Todd Silberman and David Raynor, Staff Writers

Highly qualified teachers, high-needs kids rarely mix in North Carolina
N.C. leads in top teachers, but few are in poor, rural schools

Knightdale Elementary School isn't the kind of school that typically attracts many nationally certified teachers.

Teachers with the credential, which enhances pay and reputation, tend to work in richer schools with fewer minorities.

But this year, 11 Knightdale Elementary teachers hold certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. The number has more than tripled since 2002. Six more teachers this year are working toward certification.

Knightdale has done this despite state policy that does little to bolster those numbers in schools facing tougher challenges. Even though the state spends more than $42 million on extra pay to reward nationally certified teachers, only about one of 10 works in the one-fifth of public schools that are the state's poorest. Read more...