Recently, the Department of Public Instruction released new results from the 2022 NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey. Administered every two years, the survey has been in place since 2002. This year’s survey had a response rate of 92%–a 20-year record. Teachers, principals, and other educators from nearly 2,700 North Carolina public schools, both district and charter, participated in the survey. Among public charter schools, 184 schools met the minimum response threshold; 27 charter schools did not. Among respondents overall, 87% were teachers, 2% were principals, 2% were assistant principals, and 9% were other educators.
According to survey findings, these are the top three conditions that most impact willingness to continue teaching at a school:
- School leadership (33%)
- Time during the work day (17%)
- Managing student conduct (12%)
These are the most important pandemic issues, according to educators’ survey responses:
- Addressing disparities in student learning (24%)
- School staffing shortages (15%)
- Assessing student performance and needs (13%)
- Social/emotional support for students (12%)
- Health and safety of teachers and staff (9%)
Screenshot from Infographic: “2022 Highlighted Results, NC Teacher Working Conditions Survey,” NC Department of Public Instruction & Academic Development Institute
Some other key findings:
- A majority of educators believe students are at least six months behind: 59% of educators say their students are six months to one year behind in their learning.
- Cyberbullying is pervasive among students, especially in the eyes of principals: Just 36% of principals and 63% of teachers agreed with the statement, “Cyberbullying is not a frequent problem among students” at their district/school.
- Almost 7 in 10 educators believe students’ emotional and mental health needs have grown–in some cases, substantially: 40% say students’ need for support is “much more than before” while 29% say the need is “somewhat more than before.”
