Oklahoma Senate panel OKs teacher pay raises

The Senate Training Committee permitted a invoice that will enhance state minimal instructor salaries, which might give all public faculty educators a bump of $3,000 to $6,000 primarily based on their years of expertise.

Whereas the choice on whether or not to grant lecturers pay raises this yr will in the end be labored out by means of the state price range course of, Tuesday’s committee listening to signaled rising legislative assist for an across-the-board pay hike. 

Senate Invoice 482 by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, proposes elevating the state minimal instructor wage from $36,601 to $39,601 yearly. The invoice is a part of a bundle of training reforms Pugh is pushing this yr. 

“I believe there are vital steps the state must deliberately and really publicly take to indicate lecturers that we’re critical in regards to the work that they are doing,” Pugh mentioned.

Amid a widespread instructor scarcity, Oklahoma must do one thing to maintain its educators from leaving the career or going to show in neighboring states, he mentioned. Pugh famous that Arkansas’ governor simply known as for a $14,000 enhance in minimal instructor pay that will begin salaries at $50,000 a yr. 

Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma Metropolis, additionally famous that the governor of Texas is asking for $15,000 instructor pay raises. 

“Are we involved that as we’re on this nationwide competitors for expertise that what we’re doing is woefully behind?” she requested Pugh within the committee listening to.

He responded that Oklahoma’s price of residing is extra inexpensive than Texas’. He additionally mentioned he hopes the Legislature boosts instructor pay this yr and talks about pay raises once more subsequent yr. 

Beneath SB 482, first- by means of fourth-year lecturers would see $3,000 pay raises. Academics with between 5 and 14 years of expertise would obtain pay raises of $4,000 or $5,000. Academics with 15 or extra years of expertise would see $6,000 pay bumps.

The pay raises would price about $241 million.

Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters are pushing for merit-based instructor pay raises. The main points of any instructor pay raises granted this yr are prone to be labored out later this legislative session in closed-door price range talks between high lawmakers and representatives from the Governor’s Workplace. 

On common, Oklahoma lecturers earn about $54,000 yearly.

The Legislature final boosted instructor pay in 2019 with an across-the-board elevate of about $1,200. Lawmakers permitted instructor pay raises of $6,100 in 2018. 

The committee additionally handed a number of different payments which are a part of Pugh’s training plan.

Pugh discovered bipartisan assist for laws to supply 12 weeks of paid maternity depart and to offer $500 stipends to mentor lecturers who assist first-year educators.

The committee additionally permitted laws to create what Pugh known as “essentially the most aggressive scholarship program within the state” aimed toward graduating extra lecturers from faculties and universities and getting these graduates into school rooms.