NC won’t pay teachers extra for having a master’s degree, but Wake County will now
Hundreds of Wake County teachers, social workers and other school employees will get thousands of dollars more per year under a new plan to reward them for achieving advanced degrees.
The Wake County school board unanimously approved Tuesday boosting the pay of employees who missed North Carolina’s 2013 cutoff to get a master’s degree, doctorate or other higher degree to receive extra state pay.
Wake will tap into local dollars to provide the $4.4 million for the pay bump that will go into effect July 1. It’s estimated to impact 650 teachers, social workers, speech language pathologists, audiologists, guidance counselors and pathologists.
“I’ve heard stories after stories after stories of teachers who’ve pursued their master’s degrees that missed the cutoff,” said school board vice chair Chris Heagarty. “They’re here because of the love of teaching even though they know they can take their advanced degree and be better compensated in other professions.
“I’m really hopeful that this will be something that helps show some appreciation and keep those teachers retained and on staff.”
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State stops paying for degrees
Historically, the state paid teachers 10% more per year if they had a master’s degree.
In 2013, the Republican-led General Assembly eliminated the extra pay for master’s degrees and other higher degrees for teachers and social workers. To be exempt, teachers and social workers had to have at least completed one course toward their degree prior to Aug. 1, 2013.
State lawmakers have continued to pay other certified instructional support staff such as counselors and psychologists for their master’s degrees because it’s required for their license. But the state stopped paying them and teachers for other advanced and doctorate degrees unless they also met the Aug. 1, 2013 deadline.
Multiple bills are filed annually by state lawmakers to restore providing extra pay for advanced degrees. But they’ve all died in committee.
“It’s sobering to think that the legislature made this change almost 10 years ago and it’s taken us this long,” said school board member Lynn Edmonds. “They’re the ones who should have corrected it. This pay should have been restored with state dollars.”
Employees lobby for higher pay
The state’s 2013 cutoff means employees with comparable years of experience who hold similar degrees and do the same work are paid differently. It can be a difference of more than $500 per month in salary.
In Wake, there are 5,439 employees who were grandfathered under the 2013 law and are still paid extra for their advanced degrees.
Over the past several months, several school social workers have spoken at school board meetings about how the lack of master’s degree pay is hurting their colleagues financially.
“I chose to be a school social worker because I truly believe that all children should have equal opportunities to attain the best educational outcomes,” Michele Lesniak told the school board on Tuesday. “So I’m here tonight to ask that the Wake County school board please consider reinstating the master’s degree pay for school social workers.
“I don’t want us to lose one more amazing school social worker, and I don’t want a student or a school not to have a social worker there when they will need one the most.”
Heagarty, the board member, said they wanted to thank all the social workers who’ve spoken to the board.
“You just have to be a very special, special soul to go in and do that work and play such an important part in kids’ lives every day,” Heagarty said. “I wish we could go more, but I’m glad we’re doing this.”
This story was originally published March 22, 2023 at 10:17 AM with the headline "NC won’t pay teachers extra for having a master’s degree, but Wake County will now."
