Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools is continuing to investigate new ways to pay teachers and support staff through Project ADVANCE.

Project ADVANCE is a new system that CHCCS is working on that will award raises to teachers who continue their professional development through classes or other learning opportunities.

Executive Director Rydell Harrison presented some of his plans for Project ADVANCE  to the CHCCS Board of Education last week

“Is there really a connection between years of service and student learning,” he said. “The answer to that question is no there is not and this unfortunately sends a confusing message about what’s most important.”

Under the current system, CHCCS teachers receive raises based on how many years they have been teaching. Harrison said he believes Project ADVANCE could be the solution to this problem.

“The way it works is that teachers and support staff will earn credits by participating in professional learning,” he said. “Then those new practices are implemented in the classroom by working with students and that’s another level of points and then finally once we see the impact and look at student outcomes we’re able to award additional credits.”

Once a staff member earns a certain number of credits, they will move to a higher level on the pay scale.

“This allows teachers to move to the higher end of the salary schedule that we currently have in a more accelerated time frame,” he said. “And we hope that this would help us recruit and retain strong teachers.”

He is working towards implementing the system for all teachers starting in August of next year, but is still creating many of the specifics, including how to bring teachers into the system that are already in the district and what exactly the levels of pay will be.

He will continue to present his plan to the board as the year goes on.

Board member Andrew Davidson said the board will support the project in any way it can in order implement the program next school year.

 

Related Stories
‹
Facing Pressures In All Directions, Orange County Commissioners Near Budget Decision
Orange County Commissioners are holding a public hearing on next year's budget Thursday, May 28, with major decisions yet to be made.
For Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, a Major Decision Looms: Which School to Close?
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board will have to decide on June 4 whether to close Ephesus, Glenwood, or Seawell Elementary.
CHCCS Announces Leadership Changes At Carrboro High And Culbreth Middle Schools
This week, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools announced that two of its current principals will swap schools in the upcoming academic year.
Carrboro High Students Dismissed Early Due to Piedmont Electric Power Outage
More than 7,000 Piedmont Electric Cooperative customers in Orange County lost power Friday due to a transmission issue affecting substations.
Brush Fire Contained, But Still Burning in Carolina North Forest; Officials Warn of Smoky Conditions
A brush fire in the Carolina North Forest just south of Seawell Elementary School continues to burn and smolder on Thursday morning, causing smoky conditions across Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Updates from fire officials said the fire, which began Wednesday afternoon and firefighters responded to just before 4:30 p.m., is contained after an overnight effort […]
Speaking of Schools: CHCCS Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks on Public Hearing, Graduation, and More
Chapel Hill Carrboro City Schools Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, May 18. He discussed the upcoming public hearing on the decision surrounding possible closure of one of the district's elementary schools. He shared that due to public interest, the meeting has been moved to Smith Middle School from the Lincoln Center. The meeting will still be on Thursday, May 21. He also talked about graduation and other important end-of-year events.
Scroggs Elementary's LaThanya Campbell Named 2026 CHCCS Teacher of the Year
Pre-kindergarten teacher LaThanya Campbell of Mary Scroggs Elementary School was named the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Teacher of the Year Thursday at the district’s annual Recognition Celebration. Campbell has worked in the district since 2021 and is also on its Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council. She has worked in education for 27 years. “As a Pre-K […]
New Studies Suggest CHCCS Close 1 Elementary School, Address Capacity Issues Through Redistricting
CHCCS school board members heard a presentation about the deeper studies conducted on criteria for closure of any three elementary schools.
Local Soccer Player, East Chapel Hill High Schooler Earns Invite to German Training Camp
Cristian Diaz Perez, a sophomore at East Chapel Hill High School, is hoping to attend an exclusive soccer camp in Germany this summer.
'Worried For Our Future': Authors React to Removal Attempt of LGBTQ+ Books from CHCCS Elementary Libraries
North Carolina legislators are pushing to remove 63 LGBTQ-themed books from CHCCS elementary schools, saying they violate state law for being available in libraries.
›