1941

v      Retirement System created for teachers and state employees.

v      “G” salary schedule began with steps G-2 through G-11.

1942

v      A-9 step added to state salary schedule.

1943

v      School term increased from 8 months to 9 months.

1945

v      A-10 step added to state salary schedule.

1947

v      A-11/G-12 steps added to state salary schedule.

1955

v      Social Security coverage began for teachers.

v      Workers’ Compensation coverage began for teachers.

1957

v      A-12/G-13 salary steps added to state schedule.

1959

v      Teachers’ term extended from 180 to 183 days.

1961

v      22.5 percent pay raise.

v      Teachers’ term extended from 183 to 185 days.

v      Supervisors’ salary schedule created (earlier supervisors were paid on teachers’ schedule for 10 months).

1962

v      $50 per month extra paid to teachers with doctorates.

1963

v      Five days’ sick leave per year given to teachers.

v      Retirement formula increased.

v      Tax-sheltered annuities for teachers authorized.

v      Principals’ term extended for those at large schools from 10 months to 10 ½ or 11 months.

1965

v      10 percent pay raise.

v      $100 per month extra paid to teachers with doctorates.

v      Retirement credit allowed for WWII military service.

v      Merit pay killed following a 1961 pilot program.

1967

v      20 percent pay raise.

v      Retirement credit allowed for unused sick leave.

v      $15,000 death benefit established.

v      Principals’ term extended one week for all sizes of schools.

1969

v      10 percent pay raise.

v      Retirement age lowered to allow full retirement at age 62 with 30 years of service.

v      Automatic cost-of-living increase formula added to retirement.

v      Payroll deductions authorized for credit union savings or loan payments.

v      $120 extra per month paid to holders of doctorates.

1970

v      10 percent pay raise.

v      Corporal punishment law enacted.

1971

v      Fair Employment and Dismissal Act passed.

v      5 percent pay raise.

v      Kindergarten pilot program began.

v      Local supplements included in salary counting toward retirement.

1972

v      State Blue Cross/Blue Shield hospital insurance began.

v      Teachers’ term extended to 187 days.

v      5 percent pay raise.

v      Supervisors’ term extended to 10 ½ months.

v      Principals’ term extended to 12 months.

1973

v      Teachers’ term extended to 10 months.

v      Supervisors’ term extended to 12 months.

v      A-13/G-14 salary schedule steps added.

v      Class size law enacted.

v      Assistant Principals given $600 state supplement (added to teachers’ salary schedule amount).

v      Retirement with no reduction after 30 years regardless of age.

1974

v      Sick leave for teachers increased to six days per year.

v      Repayment of withdrawn retirement authorized.

v      7.5 percent pay raise.

1975

v      Retirement formula increased.

1976

v      Sick leave for teachers increased to same rate as state employees - .83 days per month.

v      4 percent plus $300 pay raise.

v      Teachers begin receiving extra pay per month for advanced certificate.

1977

v      Longevity pay after 15 years’ service authorized for teachers.

v      Death Benefit maximum increased to $20,000.

v      6.5% pay raise.

1978

v      6% pay raise.

1979

v      5 percent pay raise plus $200.

v      Retirement formula increased.

1980

v      10% pay raise.

v      New salary schedule.

v      Longevity pay for teachers authorized after 10 years’ service.

v      Extra pay for advanced certificate increased from $35 to $100 a month; earned doctorate, $141 to $200.

1981

v      5 percent pay increase.

v      Additional pay for master’s degree.

v      Teachers can stay home when weather is hazardous and make up the day later.

1982

v      Tax sheltering of retirement contributions.

v      Improvements in hospital insurance.

1983

v      Real annual leave ranging from 1.5 days a year to 11.5 days a year.

v      Daily duty-free period for teachers.

v      Retirement at age 60 with 25 years.

v      5 percent pay raise.

v      Two additional days of sick leave.

1984

v      14.8 percent pay raise.

v      1,265 new teaching positions funded.

1985

v      Basic Education Plan (BEP) to equalize educational opportunity funded for $211 million.

v      9.6 percent pay raise.

v      Retirement formula increased from 1.57 to 1.58.

v      Effected several compromises in the Career Ladder experiment.

1986

v      6.5 percent pay raise for teachers and assistant principals.

v      5 percent pay raise for administrators.

v      $75 per month for non-certified.

v      $250 bonus for Effective Teaching Training.

1987

v      5 percent pay raise.

v      $250 Effective Teaching Bonus.

v      Health benefits deficit funded.

v      Disability coverage overhaul.

v      Master’s Degree equity for 1986-87.

1988

v      4.5 percent pay raise.

v      Retirement formula increased from 1.58 to 1.60.

v      Death Benefit increased to $50,000 maximum and new $25,000 minimum.

v      Permanent pay equity for those who earn Master’s Degrees.

1989

v      End of salary freeze.

v      Adoption of new salary schedule.

v      Average of 6% pay raise.

v      Local option instead of mandated statewide career ladder participation.

v      Retirement formula increased from 1.60 to 1.63.

v      Annual leave cutoff changed to June 30.

v      Retention of full funding of employee health insurance premium.

1990

v      Saved second year phase-in of salary schedule from budget cuts.

v      Secured differentiated pay in Senate Bill 2.

v      Saved funding for new teachers in SB 2.

v      Protected career ladder funding from budget cuts.

v      Increased retirement formula by 2 points; 6.5 percent pay raise in retirement pay.

v      Saved administrative tenure.

v      Protected driver’s education teachers from being transferred to the Motor Vehicle Department.

1991

v      Added several wellness provisions to teacher health plan.

v      Staved off increase in health insurance premiums.

v      Added another state-paid holiday for teachers (12 in all).

v      Teacher participation in state employees’ deferred compensation plan.

v      $14 million for basic education plan for restoration of teaching positions lost to earlier reductions.

v      Implementation of the outcome-based education project.

1992

v      Completion of modified salary schedule.

v      Longevity pay reinstated.

v      Basic Education Plan (BEP) funding for 714 teachers and 82 support personnel.

v      Improved Senate Bill 2 guidelines for differentiated pay and SB 2 waivers.

v      5.2 percent increase in retirees’ pensions; formula increase of 6 points to 1.70.

v      Buyback of retirement time lost, up to six months, due to interrupted service for maternity leave.

v      Protected salary gains from career ladder.

v      New payroll deduction authorization.

v      Aid to small/low wealth school systems.

1993

v      Full funding of salary schedule.

v      1 percent cost of living adjustment.

v      A statewide salary schedule for principals and assistant principals.

v      Reinstatement of full compensation for advanced degrees.

v      Salary increases for community college personnel.

v      Conversion of unused leave to sick leave.

v      A voluntary sick leave bank.

v      1.60 percent cost of living adjustment for retirees.

v      Increase in retirement formula from 1.70 to 1.71.

v      Establish a task force on teacher staff development.

v      Maintain full funding of health insurance employee premium.

v      Use of vacation leave for teacher assistants while students are in session.

v      Expansion of Basic Education Plan (BEP) by $10 million dollars for instructional support personnel.

v      Establishment of teacher academy.

v      Creation of a school technology committee.

v      Increased funding to purchase textbooks.

v      Establishment of task force on teacher staff development to devise a teacher academy plan.

v      State aid to small school systems.

v      Grants to local school systems to make schools safe.

v      Increased funding for programs for exceptional children.

1994

v      7% raise for most teachers.

v      Fully funded principal and assistant principal salary schedules.

v      The Basic Education Plan (BEP) received $46 million to hire 1,250 new teachers, teacher assistants, psychologists, social workers and guidance counselors.

v      $18 million for instructional support positions (crime session).

v      $42 million technology reserve.

v      Additional funds for low wealth and small school systems.

v      Additional funds for supplies and materials.

v      Additional funds for exceptional children.

v      2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for retirees.

v      Increased the retirement formula to 1.73.

1995

v      Full funding of 2% salary step and comparable 2% increase for all other employees.

v      One-time 2% bonus for teachers, principals, and assistant principals at top of schedule.

v      10% low wealth money for salary supplements for individuals on the teacher salary schedule.

v      Authorized ten pilot programs utilizing school-based incentive grants.

v      K-3 teacher assistants who substitute for a day now paid salary equal to entry level teacher with A certificate.

v      100% coverage up to $250 on routine diagnostic exams and immunizations.

v      Lifetime benefit in health plan increased to $2,000,000.

v      Added oral surgery benefit, provided it is necessitated by medical treatment.

v      Added waiver of inpatient hospital certification penalty.

v      COLA for retirees of 2%.

v      Increased retirement formula to 1.75 (total increase with COLA 3.2%).

v      Employee can now use annual leave on student days for catastrophic illness.

v      Teacher can now use annual leave within 12 months of birth or placement for newborn child, adopted child, or foster care child for up to 12 weeks.

v      Funded 2 leave days and payment of fees for candidates for NBPTS.

v      Reduced teacher allotment for 1^st grade to 1:23.

v      Increased low wealth funding by $6.2 million.

v      Enacted legislation to limit testing to reading, communication skills, and math for K-8 and competencies determined by SDBE for 9-12.

v      Funded an additional $3.2 million for alternative schools.

v      Modified school expulsion law to remove students who are clear threat to the safety of the school.

1996

v      5.5% salary increase for teachers, principals, assistant principals.

v      4.5% salary increase for other school personnel.

v      4.4% cost-of-living increase for retirees.

v      $3 million in staff development.

v      $14.2 million for school safety/violence prevention.

v      Class size reduction in Grade 2.

v      $5 million in low wealth funding.

v      National Board funding to pay fees and provide salary bonus.

v      NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission.

v      $20 million for school technology.

v      $500,000 for A+ Schools.

v      $500,000 for Cities in Schools.

v      $500,000 for NC Teacher Academy.

v      One paid vacation day for bus drivers.

v      Minimum salary grade of 54 for Teacher Assistants.

v      First priority for TA’s to receive prospective teacher scholarship loans.

v      Study of teacher salary and benefits.

v      Remove 12-week restriction on leave for adoptive parents.

v      Exemption from computer skills test for schools without computers.

v      Additional pay for all TA’s who substitute.

1997

Salaries

v      Excellent Schools Act includes 8% funding for teacher compensation with 6.5% to fund the 1997-98 schedule.

v      Average salary increase, including step, longevity and the new schedule, will be 7.8%.

v      Longevity for employees with 25 or more years is increased from 2.5% to 4.5%.

Opportunities for Extra Pay

v      Excellent Schools Act also includes ABC incentive pay is increased, allowing certified staff to receive up to $750 if the school meets its goal.  Certified staff in schools that exceed goals can receive up to $1,500.  Statute amended to include all pre-K - 12 teachers.

v      ABC incentive pay for TA’s is up to $375 if the school meets goals and $750 if the school exceeds its goals.

v      New teachers will be paid for an extra three days of work in staff development before the opening of school. 

v      Mentor teachers will receive $100 per month plus an additional $100 for working one day prior to the beginning of the school year.

v      Teachers working on National Board Certification will have their participation fee paid and be granted paid leave for three days to complete the process.  Those who achieve National Board Certification will receive an additional 12% salary. 

v      In the year 2000, there will be a 10% salary increase for master’s competencies.

v      One day of vacation leave for bus drivers is included in the budget.

Retirement

v      Retirees’ formula increase will be 1.78 to 1.81 from the current 1.75.

v      Cost-of-living adjustment for retirees will be 3% to 4% (compensation from 5.7% to 6.4%).

Safe Schools

v      Each local board must develop a safe schools plan that includes the standard of behavior of students and school personnel and the consequences of violations.

School Calendar

v      Students will attend for 180 days or 1000 hours of instruction. 

v      Teachers shall work for no more than 200 days. 

Teachers in Low-Performing Schools

v      Teachers in designated low-performing schools with an assistance team will be asked to demonstrate their general knowledge by passing a test designated by the State Board of Education.  Those who fail the test three times may be dismissed. 

Fair Employment and Dismissal Act

v      Teachers earn tenure after four years, rather than three. 

v      The Professional Review Committee is replaced with a case manager, someone trained in arbitration. 

Higher Standards for Entry into Teaching

v      Universities are directed to raise standards for entry into schools of education, with North Carolina schools using a standard format.

v      Requirements for initial certification will increase, including awarding continuing certification at the end of three years, rather than two. 

1998

Budget

v      Teacher Salaries 6.5%.

v      Principal/Assistant Principal Salaries 6.5%.

v      Other School Personnel Salaries 4%.

v      Retirees COLA 2.5%.

v      Extra Duties/ Extra Pay $15 million.

v      Limited English Proficiency.

v      Small System Funding.

v      Low-Wealth Funding.

v      ABC Bonus Awards Funding.

v      Forfeiture of Vacation Days (6).

v      Smart Start Program Funded.

v      Allotted National Board Funds.

1999

v      Funds to implement the third year of the salary schedule in the Excellent Schools Act, an average increase of 7.5 percent. 

v      Tied to the G teacher’s salary schedule, plus an additional 1 percent for meeting or exceeding ABC goals and another 1 percent for meeting the local safe schools plan.

v      All other public school employees receive 3 percent plus a $125 bonus in the first pay period.

v      ABC bonus funded at $140,000.

v      A+ Schools received $400,000 in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

v      TA Salary Study initiated by the Education Oversight Committee.

v      Stipends for mentor teachers, $14,235,124 in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

v      Provides local school systems funds to use for improving performance of students who score at Level I and Level II on the end of grade tests, $20,582,412 in 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

v      Limited English Proficiency additional funds - $5,000,000.

v      Local boards may issue one-year provisional to assistant principal’s certificate to an employee if the local board determines there is a shortage of qualified persons.

v      Expanded the law of assault to protect school personnel and school volunteers.

v      Limits the assignment of extracurricular activities and non-instructional duties for initially certified teachers and for teachers with 27 or more years of experience.  Local boards must adopt policies to minimize non-instructional duties for all teachers.

v      Amended the duty-free period statute so that “principals shall not unfairly burden a given teacher by making that teacher give up his or her duty free period on an ongoing, regular basis without the consent of the teacher.”

v      Expands the State Board’s authority to review and evaluate charter schools, their impact on public schools and student academic progress.

v      Provides for any employee of a public school or state agency to share leave with an immediate family member who is an employee of a public school or state agency.

v      Provides for local boards of education to issue one-year provisional teaching certificates in areas where there is a shortage of certified teachers.

2000

v      Teacher and school-based administrator salaries will go up the fourth year of the Excellent Schools Act, including the 10 percent differential for “M” teachers with Master’s degrees, and 12% for National Board Certification. 

v      Average salary increase for “A” teachers will be 6.5%. 

v      Salary increase for most school-based administrators will be approximately 10%. 

v      ESP not on the teachers or school-based administrator’s salary schedule will receive a 4.2% salary increase, plus a $500 bonus to be paid in October. 

v      Teachers’ longevity will be equal to that of other state employees.  The increases in rates are as follows:

o        10-14 years, from 1% to 1.5%;

o        15-19 years, from 1.5 % to 2.25%;

o        20-24 years, from 2% to 3.25%; and

o        25+ years remains at 4.5%. 

v      Retirees receive 3.6% COLA and a change in the formula from 1.80 to 1.81, bringing the total increase for retirees to 4.2%. 

Program Monies

v      Additional $250,000 for NC Teacher Academy.

v      $250,000 for NCCAT.

v      $50,000 for Teacher Cadet Program.

v      $100,000 for the Network for School Based Management.

v      Additional $3.7 million for Limited English Proficiency.

v      $8 million for Improving Student Accountability for student in grades 3-12.

v      $5 million in additional Low Wealth Supplemental Funding.

v      NCAE worked to retain assistance for teachers seeking certification and was successful in getting financial incentives codified.  Payment of fees and the salary differential for teachers who earn national certification is now law.

2001

Class Size Reductions

v      $12 million to reduce the student to teacher allotment ratio in kindergarten to 1:19 in FY 2001-02.  FY 2002-03 allotment ratio would be 1:18. 

v      $10.8 million for High Priority Schools

o        K-3 class size to 1:15.

o        Additional instructional support position (37).

o        Five days of additional employment for staff development; five more days in FY 2002-03 for extending the school year.

o        Funding for outside parties to evaluate the program.

v      $1.8 million for chronically low-performing schools.

Teacher Recruitment - $2.5 million

v      $1 million for scholarships for TA’s to work toward certification.

v      $1.5 million to pay $1,800 bonuses to math, science and special education teachers in middle and high schools with high numbers of free- and reduced- lunch eligible children.

v      Study impact of part-time teachers and increase Teaching Fellows Program.

Supplemental Budget Increases

v      Children with Special Needs - $3 million.

v      Improved Student Accountability $5 million.

v      Classroom Supplies for Teachers $4.1 million; local systems are to make $100 available to every teacher for classroom supplies.

v      Low Wealth Supplemental Funding $4 million; funding to 71 eligible counties and 83 LEAs in FY 2001-02.

v      Small County Supplemental Funding $2 million; funding to 27 eligible counties (increase of $74,000 per county).

v      Limited English Proficiency - $1 million.

Salary Increases

v      Teachers and others paid on the teachers’ salary schedule received an average increase of 2.86 percent.  The range is 1 percent to 6.92 percent.

v      Assistant principals and principals received an average salary increase of 2.93 percent.

v      All other public school employees receive a $625 annual salary increase.

v      $93.1 million for ABCs Incentive Awards (+$4.6 million for pilot LEAs).

Continuation Budget Increases

v      Additional 518 classroom teachers.

v      $10 million for children with special needs.

v      $5 million for At-Risk students.

v      $4.2 million for textbooks.

v      $3.7 million for instructional supplies.

2002

v      Enacted payroll deduction plan.

v      Revised teacher and administrator salary schedule.

v      General Assembly provided funds to implement the ABC’s of Public Education. 

v      Conversion of accumulated leave time.

v      Annual bonuses provided to teachers certified in and teaching math, science or special education in grades 6-12.

v      Additional teacher positions for first grade.

v      Formation of the Business and Education Technology Alliance.

v      Intervention strategies for continually low-performing schools.

v      Definition of retired teacher modified.

v      Supplemental funding for small school systems.

v      Reserve for experience step increase for teachers and principals in public schools. 

v      More at Four pilot program established.

v      Special annual leave bonus.

v      Additional family and medical leave. 

v      Salary-related contributions/employers for Teachers and State Employees are 3.03%.

v      1.4% cost-of-living adjustment provided for retirees of the Teachers and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS).

v      Enhance benefits payable from the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (formula increase).

v      State Treasurer seeks a letter from IRS seeking a ruling to amend the six-month wait to a two-month wait without adverse affect on the tax qualification of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System.

v      Modify benefit restrictions for reemployed retirees in the TSERS and in the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System. 

v      Established Employee Health Plan Board of Trustees (to include a current teacher in NC public school system and a retired teacher from NC public school system).

2003

v      Step increase for experienced teachers and principals - 1.81% average pay raise for teachers and instructional support, 1.86% average for principals and assistant principals.

v      $550 one-time, lump sum bonus for central office employees, including assistant superintendents, associate superintendents, superintendents, directors, coordinators, supervisors, finance officers, and non-certified personnel.

v      One-time bonus of 1.6% for teachers with 29 plus years of service and 2% for principals and assistant principals at the top of the salary schedule.

v      No State Health Plan premium increase for employees.

v      1.28% cost of living adjustment for retirees.

v      Employer contribution rate of 3.42% established for retirement for Teachers & State Employees – 0.22% to the Pension Fund, 0% to the Death Benefit Fund, 0% to the State Disability Income Plan, and 3.20% to the Health Plan Reserve.

v      ABC bonuses were funded at $96 million for 2003-2004.

v      $50.6 million is provided to fund second grade class size reductions and to add 571 positions to accommodate the class size reductions.

v      $1 million was allotted over two years to help LEAs with implementation of "No Child Left Behind."

v      Special annual leave bonus of 10 days for permanent full-time employees eligible to earn annual leave and not subject to automatic or step increases.  Part-time, permanent employees receive a pro rata amount.

v      Law modified regarding contracts for School Principals. After the original two-year contract, school principals and assistant principals will be granted subsequent contracts for no less than four years.

v      Law passed that states that teachers who have obtained career status in any North Carolina public school system need not serve another probationary period of more than one year if returning to the classroom.

2004

v      Classified staff will receive a raise equivalent to the greater of 2.5% or $1000. Certified staff will receive a step (average 1.83% increase) plus .67% increase.  Certified staff with 29+ years of experience will receive a one-time bonus equivalent to the average of steps 26-29.  Administrators paid at the top of their salary schedule will receive a one-time bonus of 2.0 percent.

v      Lobbied for a new calendar law which:
- provides for classroom control of professional development 
- protects all non-certified employees
- provides for five additional paid days of vacation
- provides for a later school start

v      Funds were protected to continue the practiced policy of providing incentive awards to schools that meet and exceed improvements from the previous year. Several legislators questioned whether the ABC Incentive Program was a judicious program, and made several attempts to change the qualification from the current language to providing bonuses only to those schools that exceeded their former improvements. NCAE was able to protect this provision. The Legislature did however vote to conduct a study evaluating the validity of the ABC Accountability System.

v      Retirement Benefits: 1.7 % Cost-of-Living Adjustment

v      Retire/Rehire Legislation  The sunset on legislation allowing retired teachers to return to work after six months without losing any benefits was extended to June 30, 2005. The Local Administrative Unit will have to pay 11.70% of the reemployed teacher contribution rate as a percentage of covered salaries that the retired teachers, who are exempt from the earnings cap, are being paid.

v      Altered Certification Standards for Teachers New language indicates that the State Board of Education now has the discretion to require a test and determine what the cutoff scores would be. Prior to this session, language regarding the standards determined by the State Board indicated that the Board "shall" require…standard examinations. The current language states that the Board "may" require…standards examinations. This discretionary language allows the State Board to more closely monitor its decisions in addressing certification standards.

v      Teacher Academy:  Funded at $2 million

v      Restored monies for Vocational Education funding.