NC board backs slower effort on teacher license, pay changes

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s State Board of Education backed on Thursday an incremental approach to advance a potential teacher licensure overhaul that would include higher instructor pay based on performance rather than years of experience.

The board voted with no opposition for a motion that in part envisions piloting or testing a new license and performance program before it could potentially be carried out statewide, media outlets reported.

It ultimately would take the General Assembly’s formal approval in legislation to move the idea forward and provide short- and long-term funding. A board leader said creating pilots in certain school districts could go a long way for a statewide remake of licensing to become a success.

If “we do a proof of concept demonstration that works by piloting this in districts across our state, that will create a much stronger argument to win the day” for funding, board Chairman Eric Davis said Wednesday during extended discussion on the proposal.

The state’s Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Committee has been looking since last year at how to redo a licensure system that critics say is failing to retain veteran teachers and improve student learning substantially.

Thursday’s motion asked the committee to come up by March with proposed policies or rules needed to implement pilot programs or testing for several elements within a broader “Blueprint for Action” that the committee supported narrowly last month. The General Assembly convenes in January and likely will remain in Raleigh until early summer.

A draft statewide plan considered by the committee this year would switch from a pay system for licensed teachers largely based on experience to one based on different types of licenses.

Teachers could move to more...