RALEIGH, N.C. — Governor Roy Cooper is urging state legislators to make major investments in education after seeing the results of a $5 billion federal investment to North Carolina’s public schools for pandemic impact.

Cooper’s call to action comes after a report from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction showed student testing and scores within the state improved tremendously during the 2021-2022 school year, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

“North Carolina students saw major learning recovery and increased test scores because of unprecedented federal funds directed to public education,” Cooper said. “The impact of these funds shows that when schools have more resources, students succeed, and our state legislature must follow through with major investments in public schools and teachers to continue the momentum and ensure every child has the sound, basic education our constitution requires."

The report from the NCDPI shows North Carolina students had the greatest improvement during the 2021-22 school year for middle and high school math, as well as growth in general test scores, as stated in the release.

Cooper’s budget recommendation would increase teacher pay to a minimum $46,000 salary in 2024, as well as hire more nurses, educators, counselors, school psychologists, turnaround coaches and social workers, the release said.

He also plans to address bus driver shortages, raising pay by nearly 10% and expanding the DMV's capacity to train school bus drivers, according to the release.