Stein Highlights Teacher Raises as Students Begin School Year

Governor's August column touts education investments.

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is using his August column to highlight teacher pay increases and other education investments in the state's new budget, but in Rutherford County, the back-to-school season is already underway.

Rutherford County Schools' traditional-calendar students began the 2026-27 school year on Aug. 11. District schools are now in their second week of classes as Stein's statewide back-to-school message reaches families. While a North Carolina state law limits traditional public schools from starting before August 24, many districts—including Rutherford County Schools—begin earlier.

Stein's column, titled “New Notebooks, New Beginnings,” focuses on the start of another school year and the state's recently enacted budget.

“As families across North Carolina fill shopping carts with binders and fresh boxes of crayons, another school year is just around the corner,” Stein said.

For Rutherford County families, however, the shopping and preparation have already given way to classroom routines, bus schedules, athletics and the first assignments of the school year.

The governor said the new budget represents an important step toward improving compensation for teachers and other school employees.

“I am gratified that as today's students head back-to-school, their teachers will for the first time in way too long receive meaningful pay raises,” Stein wrote.

Stein signed Senate Bill 257, the state's $34.4 billion 2026 appropriations act, into law July 7. It was North Carolina's first full state budget in more than two years. 

The budget provides an average 8% pay increase for teachers, with larger increases for newer teachers. Starting teacher pay increases to $48,000, while the overall teacher salary and bonus package totals nearly $600 million, according to education budget reporting. 

The governor's office has described the increase as the largest overall teacher pay raise in 15 years and the largest increase in starting teacher pay in nearly 50 years. 

The increases also extend beyond classroom teachers. Stein said principals, bus drivers, teacher assistants, cafeteria workers and other school employees will receive a 3% raise and a bonus.

But Stein acknowledged that North Carolina continues to face challenges in teacher compensation.

“Yet, even with this year's pay bumps, North Carolina still ranks in the bottom 10 states in teacher pay and other school employees are struggling just to keep pace with inflation,” he wrote. “We have more work to do.”

The budget also includes initiatives aimed at teacher recruitment and retention, including apprenticeships, professional development and changes to educator licensure.

For students, Stein highlighted several programs included in the new budget.

The state is expanding the Advanced Teaching Roles program, which allows experienced teachers to take on leadership and mentoring responsibilities while remaining in the classroom. The budget also expands evidence-based literacy supports and Science of Reading professional development into middle schools.

Other investments include new assessment tools intended to improve math achievement in low-performing schools, school security upgrades and efforts to develop artificial intelligence literacy policies for students.

“Every child deserves access to the tools and support they need to thrive, regardless of where they live,” Stein wrote.

Rutherford County's school year began weeks after lawmakers and the governor finally reached agreement on the state budget.

The timing means local educators are beginning the school year as the financial changes approved by lawmakers take effect.

The governor's message also comes as Rutherford County schools continue operating after a major disruption last school year. The district has been working to restore services following a cybersecurity incident that affected technology systems, with local schools posting updates for families as the new academic year began.

At East Rutherford High School, for example, school officials welcomed students back Aug. 11 and had already posted a first-week update thanking families for helping make the opening successful, along with a district-wide update.

Stein's column takes a broader view, focusing on what he describes as the long-term importance of public education.

“To our students, welcome back,” Stein wrote. “Whether you are walking into kindergarten for the very first time or using your new driver's license to drive to high school, this school year is an opportunity.”

He encouraged students to remain curious, ask questions and measure success by more than grades.

“Remember that success is measured not only by grades but also by character, perseverance, and the way that we treat each other,” Stein wrote.

For Rutherford County students, that new beginning is no longer ahead. The first days of the 2026-27 school year are already in the books, and students, teachers and school employees are settling into another year. For most of the state, including McDowell County, the first day back to school is Aug. 24. 

Stein closed his column by arguing that education is an investment in both North Carolina's children and the state's future.

“I am proud of the progress we have made, and I remain committed to ensuring every North Carolina student has the chance to succeed,” he said.