RALEIGH -- Governor Pat McCrory is facing the very real prospect that the General Assembly will not be able to come to an agreement on the budget before the end of the fiscal year - one week from Monday. McCrory issued a directive Monday keeping current education funding in place.

McCrory said, "This directive will not reduce spending for teachers assistants, below this year's funding."

The Senate plan includes an average 11% teacher pay raise - but only for educators who give up tenure. The House plan includes a 5% average teacher pay raise - but educators can keep tenure. The Senate wants to eliminate nearly 75-hundred teacher assistant positions to pay for the raises, while the House wants to use new funds from lottery sales.