The Effect of Recent Legislation on Teacher Attitudes

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Katelyn E. Ashmore (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library
Advisor
Dr. Rebecca Berdeau

Abstract: Over the past year, there has been a huge focus on legislation that was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly, particularly legislation that relates to education. Pay raises for teachers with Master’s degrees was removed. Teachers who already had their master’s still get their increased pay, but teachers in the future will not receive extra compensation for holding a master’s degree. In the future, teachers will not be able to achieve tenure. Longevity pay was eliminated. Another issue facing teachers is the new salary schedule. Teachers within their first few years of teaching were given a seven percent raise. Teachers with more experience were given smaller raises. This has created an atmosphere of dissatisfaction for many teachers in North Carolina. According to a study by Richie Bernardo, North Carolina ranks 50 on a list of best and worst states for teachers. In 2006 US Census data, North Carolina ranked 26th in teacher pay. Statistics in 2013 rank North Carolina 46th in teacher pay. So what brought about this change in rankings? This paper examines the legislation passed by the General Assembly that brought about these changes, as well as how these changes have affected teacher attitudes. Through a survey of practicing teachers at my internship site, I determined that the legislation passed has a negative effect on teacher attitudes and has contributed to teacher attrition in North Carolina.

Additional Information

Publication
Honors Project
Esther G. Maynor Honors College
Language: English
Date: 2014
Keywords
North Carolina, General Assembly, Education, Teachers, Salaries, Legislation, Attitudes, Attrition, Tenure

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