NC educators frustrated not all teachers eligible for performance bonuses

NORTH CAROLINA (WSOC) — Millions of dollars are being paid out, but many teachers who are not receiving money are frustrated with the new system.

Thousands of teachers across North Carolina are opening up their paychecks this week and finding large performance bonuses.

The newly expanded bonus system for North Carolina educators now rewards top performing third to fifth-grade teachers for improved student reading scores, and fourth to eighth-grade teachers for improved student math scores.

More than 6,900 teachers in North Carolina qualified for at least one performance-based bonus. The one-time pay bump ranges from $2,300 to $6,400, but only 23 percent of teachers are being rewarded.

“The goal is obviously to have the best students we can come out of our public schools in North Carolina,” said Drew Elliot, with the Department of Public Instruction.

Officials with the North Carolina Association of Educators said it supports more money for teachers, but they do not believe the current pay-for-performance system in the answer.

“We don’t think it’s a long-term fix to recruit teachers and retain teachers into our profession,” said Mark Jewell, president of the association. “We need a strategic salary schedule that invests in all of our teachers.”

Another concern is that thousands of educators aren’t even eligible for pay bonuses because of the grade or subject area they teach.

Channel 9 investigator Paul Boyd asked Elliot what he would tell teachers who feel it is unfair that they are not eligible for the performance bonuses.

“It’s fair to say that the program is evolving,” Elliot said. “It’s also important to remember that a couple of years ago nobody was getting bonuses even if you were the most effective teacher in the state.”

Elliot said future expansion is a possibility, but ultimately, the pool of money for bonuses and teacher salaries is set by the state Legislature during the budget process.