Education advocates say new teacher pay report shows South Carolina is lagging, urge action from lawmakers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA) — A brand new report reveals trainer salaries usually are not maintaining with inflation throughout the nation and in South Carolina.

The Nationwide Training Affiliation launched a brand new educator pay examine this week. Researchers stated South Carolina ranks forty second within the nation for common beginning trainer salaries at $37,704.

“We actually would hope lawmakers right here in these subsequent few weeks actually sit down on the desk and see what’s one of the simplest ways to spend money on South Carolina and see that our persons are being taken care of,” stated South Carolina Training Affiliation President Sherry East.

At the moment, state lawmakers are contemplating elevating the minimal beginning wage for lecturers. Simply how a lot remains to be left to be determined.

The Home handed a funds plan in March that raised the beginning trainer wage to $40,000 statewide. It could additionally improve the minimal wage steps within the state pay schedule.

The Senate is debating its funds plan this week. It could elevate the beginning wage to $38,000 a yr, up from $36,000.

These will increase would influence college districts paying salaries beneath the proposed minimums.

East confused that that is a technique for lawmakers to deal with the trainer scarcity disaster in South Carolina.

In line with East, lawmakers want to take a look at growing pay for all lecturers throughout the board, not simply will increase to minimal pay.

“At the moment, it’s not going to be sufficient to entice folks to remain,” East stated.

Sen. Mike Fanning (D-Fairfield) agrees. He had proposed amendments to the Senate’s funds plan that may improve pay throughout the board. These amendments have been voted down, however Fanning stated this report sheds gentle on an ongoing concern.

“You may’t take a look at attracting lecturers within the occupation when you’re not making an attempt to retain the lecturers we have already got. If we’re bringing folks in and shedding extra, we gained’t be capable of catch up,” Fanning stated. “We wish to give you the chance that pay improve we give to our newbie lecturers that we’re additionally giving that pay improve to our current trainer to maintain them within the classroom.”

Different senators in favor of the $38,000 elevate argued a proposed earnings tax reduce and rebate within the senate’s spending plan would additionally profit lecturers.

The Senate is anticipated to wrap up debate on the funds plan on Sunday.