North Carolina is facing a teacher crisis as the state’s teacher turnover rate has surged by 47%, with 1 in 9 educators leaving the profession, according to the latest state report. The report, presented to the State Board of Education, reveals an attrition rate of 11.5% between March 2022 and March 2023, resulting in 10,376 teachers exiting the profession during that period.
This increase in attrition marks a significant rise from the previous report, highlighting the challenges faced by North Carolina’s public schools in retaining educators. The state also saw an 8% increase in teacher vacancies, with over 3,500 teaching positions left unfilled at the start of the school year.
In response to the teacher shortage, last year’s state budget raised the base salary for beginning teachers and provided an average raise of 7% over two years. However, concerns remain about the disparity in compensation for newer and experienced teachers, with the state’s most seasoned educators slated to receive only a 3.6% raise over the budget period.
Senate Republicans have proposed increasing the average pay for teachers to $60,671 by the 2024-25 school year, including county supplements. Despite these efforts, the N.C. House Committee on Education Reform recently acknowledged ongoing challenges in recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers, citing the need for improved teacher compensation to address the rising cost of living.
As North Carolina grapples with the teacher shortage crisis, the state continues to seek solutions to ensure that schools are adequately staffed with qualified educators. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.