In NC governor’s race, K-12 debate focuses on $50K

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — The public schools are again one of the key issues in the North Carolina governor’s race.

This year Republican incumbent Pat McCrory and Democratic challenger Roy Cooper and their allies recently have been tussling over teacher pay and $50,000. McCrory and other Republicans are promoting the figure because say average teacher pay will go above the amount thanks largely to pay increases in the state budget.

Cooper’s campaign and his Democratic allies call it an election-year gimmick that hides low teacher pay compared to the rest of the country. Cooper says he’s got a plan to raise salaries to at least the national average.

Ferrel Guillory teaches at UNC-Chapel Hill and writes about education. He says he’s worried the fixation on $50,000 will obscure larger education issues in the race.

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