Dive Brief:
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North Carolina's Wake County Schools have seen a 41% jump in teacher resignations this year.
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Since the beginning of 2014, 612 of the county's 9,000 teachers have resigned this year — up from 433 this time last year.
- Low salaries are reportedly to blame, as school officials say the numbers indicate a need to raise teacher pay and re-evaluate the state's removal of extra pay for higher degrees, as well as its gradual discontinuation of tenure.
Dive Insight:
While North Carolina is currently ranked 46th nationally for average teacher pay — the base teacher salary is $30,800 — state lawmakers say it is not pay causing the teacher diaspora but rather other circumstances like early retirement.
While last year only 55 teachers retired, this year 142 have elected to do so. This fact has some lawmakers questioning the significance of the Wake County resignations.
Regardless of the reasoning, teacher pay is a topic that should receive more public discourse, so even if pay isn't the culprit, it is still important to see individuals taking the time to consider ways to raise teacher compensation. One suggestion by Republic legislative leaders: Raising the base pay to $33,000 this year and $35,000 in 2015 — small but necessary steps.