Removing Barriers

Why does this matter?

Although state policy is often not a significant hurdle to implementing strategic staffing models, there are several barriers that states can eliminate to support districts implementing innovative staffing models, including class size restrictions, restrictions on how teachers use their time, and more.

Why does North Carolina stand out?

North Carolina allows districts to request waivers for class size or student-teacher ratio policies. The state permits teachers to formally observe other teachers and allows districts and schools to decide how teachers use their planning time. State policy allows or does not restrict paraprofessionals or teacher’s aides to support instructional activities under the supervision of a licensed teacher. Additionally, North Carolina permits districts to attribute team outcomes to teacher evaluations.

As part of the state’s Advanced Teaching Roles initiative, which introduces differentiated compensation structures and strategic staffing models for teacher leaders, schools participating in the initiative receive class size waivers to expand the reach of highly effective teachers.