Legislators Will Look At Education Issues This Session

When the North Carolina General Assembly meets Wednesday, the public school agenda will be among the issues debated. Discussion points will almost certainly include areas such as raising minimum salaries for teachers and considering what merit pay should look like in North Carolina.

Otherwise, the K-12 education agenda before the Legislature is largely up in the air when lawmakers reconvene for this year's work period.

Gov. Pat McCrory and legislative leaders sound committed to completing a two-year plan to raise the floor for teacher pay from $30,800 to $35,000. It rose this year as part of a broader pay overhaul that benefited early-career teachers most. Other lawmakers would like to see more money for veteran teachers.

Senate leader Phil Berger has been talking up higher pay for high-performing teachers. Gov. McCrory offered a merit-pay plan last year.