By Doug Shackelford and Paul Fulton
Public Ed Works
RALEIGH (February 12, 2026) – It’s been nine months since the North Carolina House passed a bipartisan budget that would finally give our schoolchildren the support they need and the teachers the pay they deserve.
The House plan would raise starting teacher salaries to $50,000 next year, putting us near the top of the Southeast instead of below our neighbors – even Mississippi!
It passed the House with overwhelming support: 86–20, including a majority of Democrats, and earned Democratic Gov.Josh Stein’s support.
Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, led the charge because he knows what every parent and educator already knows: We can’t build strong local schools without investing in the people who run them.
Teachers, after all, create all other professions.
And yet, here we are. The state Senate still refuses to act. They haven’t just blocked teacher raises—they’ve blocked basic inflation adjustments for state employees across the board.
We are the only state in the entire country that has failed to pass a budget for 2025-26.
WHAT MAKES this even harder to swallow is the fact that our state is thriving. We’re the third‑fastest‑growing state in America and on track to become the seventh‑largest state.
We have the resources. What we don’t have is leadership in the state Senate willing to put those resources to work for the people who keep our state running.
Look at the numbers: As a share of our Gross Domestic Product, North Carolina spends less on K–12 education than any other state. Dead last: 50th out of 50.
That is embarrassing!
Senate leaders say they can’t support the House budget because it delays a tax cut until we know whether projected revenue actually comes in.
That’s not some radical, left-wing idea. It’s basic common sense. You don’t cut your income before you know what your income will be. The House understands that. The Senate refuses to be wise and prudent.
The Senate rejected the House plan outright. Why?
We’re left with the same questions we’ve asked since last May:
•Why won’t Senate leaders support a budget that has broad, bipartisan backing?
•Why won’t they invest in our children, teachers, local schools and communities?
•Is this leadership?
North Carolina’s future depends on strong local schools and a workforce that feels valued. The House offered a reasonable path forward.
Doug Shackelford and Paul Fulton are former deans of the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill and board members at Public Ed Works.
Wendy Haigler says
This is embarrassing us and how are we suppose to handle the effects it has on our community. Teachers do not make enough and that is why they are unable to stay. This effects everyone when we do not have a good teaching staff. All the supporters of the institutions of learning need to be taken care of also when they do not increase pay they are really telling us what they feel about us. The food is going up and it is hard to make it financially.
C. Roger Hibbard says
Will Public Ed Works endorse senate candidates in the upcoming election? If so, will the endorsements be published in your newsletter? Distributing a list of senators with contact information will be helpful.
Higher Ed Works says
Hello! As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Public Ed Works is not affiliated with any candidate or political party. However, on our page titled ‘North Carolina’s Public Education Crisis’ (accessible from our Home page) you can find ways to access and utilize information about your county, your representatives, and where candidates stand on public education.
Thank you for your question!
Rodney Berry Sr says
I am a 69 yr old retiree lifelong citizen of NC now with grandchildren coming into the public school system. I have always had the utmost respect for our NC teachers. And they perform the highest level job in teaching and caring for our children. Children being the most important asset that we have in the world. For NC being on the lowest end of paying our teachers sends a very poor message to everyone. That the powers to be do not care about the education of our children. As far as a tax cut goes, just take my share of taxes to be cut and give it to the teachers of our state. Oreo e Ned’s to get their head out of their butt and go to work by paying our teachers. I am truly upset with this issue.
Ashley says
Please invest in education. It is more important than anything else because it is an investment in the future.
Lucille Howard says
If legislators in the majority party were free to vote for their constituent’s appeals and needs, I believe there would be movement on public schools funding and a budget. Current leadership is focused on tax cuts to satisfy their campaign financers. The fact that one man who represents less than two percent of the state’s 2025 population controls whether or not a vote is taken on any matter–including school funding–is a travesty.
Until there is a change in the Senate leadership, public schools will be abused with more regulation, more responsibilities and dismally low funding.
Gail Kelly says
In NY 6,000 plus on each student
Voucher schools mainly are not accredited And do not
Required proving their curriculum. Your students are being cheated.
Jeff Bundy says
Republicans do not care about public education. They want strong private/charter schools so they can keep raking in the vouchers and taking money away from public schools.