UNCW Poll: North Carolina Teachers React to Reforms

Researchers at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington published a study in December of 2013 that gauged the opinions of North Carolina teachers on the broad education reforms passed in state government in the past year.  The researchers believe that teacher are the best barometer of the current state of public education in North Carolina and recognized a void of data regarding the opinions of educators on the education reforms.

The researchers assert that the findings, supported by anecdotal evidence, point to a climate of dissatisfaction and resentment among teachers in NC.  Some of the most enlightening data points include:

• 96% of participants believe public education in North Carolina is headed in the wrong direction.
• 74% of respondents said that the new legislation has made them less likely to continue working as an educator in NC.
• Just 38% of respondents believe the Read to Achieve Program will have a positive effect on the quality of education in NC.
• A majority of teachers opposed the replacement of tenure with 1-, 2-, or 4-year contracts by 2018, saying that the policy would negatively affect the quality of education in NC.

The findings were interesting, especially in light of a subsequent High Point University poll that asked NC citizens similar questions regarding the policies.

With the legislature set to roll out more reforms this session, including a proposed teacher pay raise, it would be interesting to see a follow-up poll later this year.

To read the full report and its findings, click here.