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
‹
Discussing Absenteeism During Attendance Awareness Month at CHCCS — Speaking of Schools (October 19, 2026)
CHCCS' Ally Scercy, Ashanti Keitt and Allison Crosetto speak with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Monday, October 19 about absenteeism.
The Morning News: Elliott Woods, Early Voting, Carrboro Police, and the Victory Bell
In today's news: local residents are displaced from two apartment complexes, and early voting turnout is extremely high in Orange County.
Local Government Meetings: October 12-16, 2026
This week in local government: property valuation in Orange County, Chatham Park in Pittsboro, and Churton Street's future in Hillsborough.
Former Chapel Hill High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sex Crimes with Student
David Orion Bennett, who taught at Chapel Hill High School for a decade, formally pleaded guilty on September 28 to a variety of sex crimes.
Tongde Wu Takes Oath of Office, Formally Joins CHCCS Board of Education
Chapel Hill's Tongde Wu took her oath of office at the start of the CHCCS school board's work session on October 1 to formally join its ranks.
The Morning News: Alert Carolina, Armed Robbery Arrest, Seth Jarvis Helping Kids
In today's news: UNC students raise concerns about Alert Carolina, and Chapel Hill police make an arrest in yesterday's armed robbery.
The Morning News: Chapel Hill Library Card Fees, CHCCS Redistricting
In today's news: Chapel Hill imposes a library-card fee for out-of-towners, in response to county-level funding cuts.
Local Government Meetings: September 28-October 2, 2026
This week in local government: Tongde Wu officially takes her oath of office as the newest member of the CHCCS school board.
Glenwood Parent, Scientific Consultant Tongde Wu Chosen for Vacant CHCCS School Board Seat
Tongde Wu, a scientific consultant and Glenwood Elementary School parent, is set to join the CHCCS Board of Education for a brief term.
The Morning News: New CHCCS Board Member, Newmark on UNC Football Probe
In today's news: the CHCCS board appoints a new member, and UNC athletic director Steve Newmark addresses the recent football investigation.
›