The current budget being discussed in the NC House calls for a 13.8 % cut for K-12 Public Education. This is a significant cut, especially considering previous cuts from previous years and combined with these cuts represents a reduction in funding of nearly 20%. We have moved from trimming fat three years ago, to amputating limbs in the current budget.

The details of the House budget call for a 49% reduction in Teacher Assistant Positions, a 68% reduction in funds for Textbooks, a 42% reduction in funds for School Supplies,a 100% reduction in funds for Technology and Staff Development, a 21% reduction in Assistant Principal allotments, a 12 % reduction in AG teachers, along with discretionary reductions of over $300 million dollars to be determined by local school systems (Note: Discretionary Cuts give the school system the "discretion" to make cuts from whatever funds they wish and while this gives districts flexibility, a discretionary cut this large guarantees that districts will cut teaching positions).

Despite claims that they protected teacher jobs, these cuts will significantly impact classrooms all over NC since the discretionary cuts will most likely come from the classroom since many school systems don't have anything left to cut. Since these cuts are "discretionary", they allow the House to "wash their hands" of the responsibility for teacher cuts.

With this said, it is time to say, "Enough is enough!" It is not alright to have 40 children in a class. It is not alright to talk about being a "National Leader" in 21st century learning tools when your state refuses to fund technology and staff development for teachers. Most importantly, it is not alright to continually balance the state's budget on the backs of our children.

Please contact your local representative and demand that they fully fund education. Cuts of this magnitude will almost certainly move NC to 47th or 48th in the Nation in per pupil funding, which is not the territory we want to be in if we are going to compete with Colorado, Minnesota, and Washington state for high paying, technology sector jobs.