RALEIGH -- Senate President Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis announced a budget deal Tuesday that includes an average 7 percent pay raise for North Carolina teachers. The $21.25 billion deal would mean teachers would average a raise of about $3,500. Speaker Tillis says he believes Governor McCrory will buy into the proposal.

Berger and Tillis said it's the largest teacher pay raise in state history. The raise would also vault North Carolina from 46th to 32nd nationally in teacher pay rankings. The plan would also not cut any teacher assistant positions - something that had been a sticking point in earlier negotiations. The budget will also boost early-career teacher pay by 14 percent over the next two years to $35,000. Both chambers could vote on the bill by the weekend. It would then move the governor's desk.