Number of State-Funded Teachers Increases

bob.luebke@NCCivitas.org

Raleigh, N.C. – While headlines scream about k-12 education cuts across the state, preliminary data obtained from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)indicates state funded personnel in local school systems actually increased at the start of this school year.

An analysis of  the data obtained from  NCDPI indicates the number of state- funded teachers increased by over 2,000 with many of those coming at the elementary level. Overall state-funded employment in k -12 was up over 4,500 employees.

While overall employment in k-12 education was down year over year, the loss appears to be mostly the result of a loss of over 7,300 federally funded positions. Local funding also appears to have been involved in the loss of over 2,100 employees. 

“While we have heard repeatedly that the state budget had devastated education in North Carolina, the preliminary numbers do not support that claim,” said Civitas Institute policy analyst Bob Luebke.

The school personnel data is  reported by the Local Education Agencies to NCDPI and  used to compile annual K-12 personnel figures.  The figures analyzed here are preliminary and have not been validated by NCDPI. .

“Publishing these preliminary numbers at this time will also allow local reporters to compare what their local systems are telling NCDPI and what they are telling local government and reporters,” added Luebke.