North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Common Core State Standards, and NC Essential Standards
North Carolina established a Standard Course of Study in 1898 as an attempt at determining competencies for each grade level and each high school course, with a rigorous set of academic standards that is uniform across the state. The Standard Course of Study includes the curriculum that should be made available to every child in North Carolina's public schools.
On June 2, 2010, North Carolina adopted the Common Core State Standards in K-12 Mathematics and K-12 English Language Arts. Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, these Common Core State Standards and the NC Essential Standards (all other content areas) will replace the NC Standard Course of Study.
NC Professional Teaching Standards
The North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards are the basis for teacher preparation, teacher evaluation, and professional development. These standards help define what teachers need to know and do to be able to teach students in the 21st Century.
North Carolina Salary Schedule
All certified educators working in Local Education Agencies (LEA) are required to be paid from the legislated salary schedule. This schedule is approved annually by the general assembly and sets a minimum pay based on the educators years of experience and education level. Salary schedules can be found on the Public Schools of North Carolina website.
Framework for 21st Century Learning
The Framework for 21st Century Learning presents a holistic view of 21st century teaching and learning that combines a discrete focus on 21st century student outcomes (a blending of specific skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies) with innovative support systems to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities required of them in the 21st century.