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Sen. Nickel co-sponsors bill to restore master’s pay for teachers

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The following is a press release from Sen. Wiley Nickel

In the NC Senate a bipartisan group of Senators are supporting Senate Bill 28, a bill that will restore pay incentives for teachers with Masters or Doctoral degrees. This bill will incentivize public school educators to continue their education beyond a Bachelor’s degree and is popularly known as “Master’s Pay.” NC Senator Wiley Nickel is a co-sponsor of this legislation. 

Master’s Pay was eliminated under the McCrory Administration as part of his 2013 budget plan. North Carolina was the first state to repeal this type of professional pay for teachers. Senate Democrats have pushed against this decision and filed bills to restore this incentive in the 2014-2015 and 2017-2018 legislative sessions. 

Senate Bill 28 is largely a response to the erosion of support for public education in North Carolina over the past decade. Educators in North Carolina have seen a sharp decline in support for public education, noting poor working conditions, pay cuts and outdated classroom resources. In May 2018, educators marched in Raleigh asking NC legislators to make public education a priority in the state. 

“We need to respect our teachers and value the work they do to educate future generations,” said Sen. Wiley Nickel. “Teachers who pursue a Master’s or Doctoral degree are demonstrating a commitment to their profession, and it is important that we not only encourage teachers to further their education, but also reward the ones who have.” 

This bill restoring pay incentives for teachers who further their education has been met with large bipartisan support. Senator Nickel prioritized improving public education during his campaign, and is excited to co-sponsor a bill to create positive reform in public education. 

Senator Wiley Nickel is a newly-elected Democratic Senator representing North Carolina’s 16th Senate District, which includes Cary, Morrisville, and Northwest Raleigh