Average teacher raises continue a downward trend, while school boards negotiate more instructional time, the New Jersey School Boards Association reported today.
The average teacher raise for 2012-2013 is 2.42 percent, according to NJSBA. More than a third (38 percent) of districts report settlements at 2 percent or lower for this current school year. In 2011-2012, the average settlement rate was 3.19 percent.
Teacher contracts in New Jersey typically last for three years. Recently settled 2012-2013 contracts (agreements reached since July 1 of last year) show average raises of 2.36 percent – lower than the settlement rate for all 2012-2013 contracts.
“Settlement rates continue their downward trend due to the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap, the slow economy, and local school board concerns about property tax burdens,” explained Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director.
Districts in Negotiations Of the 587 local boards of education in New Jersey, 160 remain in negotiations. (The 160 districts in negotiations include 107 where contracts expired June 30 of 2012, and 53 where contracts expired in 2011 or earlier.)
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