Investigates: Oklahoma Still Losing Teachers Despite Pay Raises With teacher shortages affecting schools nationwide, educators share how pay, parents, politics and the pandemic have led some to leave the profession. Stitt asks lawmakers for $100 million to fund education during ongoing gaming dispute The measure would move the starting teacher pay to $39,601 from $36,601. Board members voted unanimously and agreed that more needs to be done for teachers. Flat wages, heavy workloads, and the politicization of schools have been cited as some of the biggest influences behind these decreases. The number of students enrolling in teacher preparation programs fell by 80% at Oklahomas colleges and universities, showing a dramatic decline in interest to enter the teaching profession, according to a 2020 report from the Center for Education Progress. Weve slipped to number four in the region, so that means Texas and Colorado and New Mexico and a lot of these states are paying more and are drawing our teachers out of the state, Pemberton said. Teacher shortages: Why educators are leaving the profession in droves. Despite a $1.3 billion budget shortfall and the near certainty of cuts to all Pemberton said he hopes measures passed last year like the, Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Initiative Program. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. How is the pay raise funded? Teacher Salaries by District - Oklahoma Watch Debate in opposition to the bill centered on concerns that it could negatively impact the teachers retirement system. Lawmakers approved an average teacher pay raise of $6,100 in 2018 and added another $1,200 in 2019. How will districts be held accountable for giving the pay raise? Teacher Salary Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session to give Oklahoma public school teachers and support staff a raise starting in the 2023-2024 school year. The intention of the law makes clear that certified personnel, on average, should receive a $1,220 raise, to be annualized and continued in future years. In a press conference before the start of the Legislative Session, he estimated the maternity leave measure to cost $25 million. However, the Governor and legislative leaders stated publicly that the amount appropriated You have permission to edit this article. The committee also passed Senate Bill 364, also by Pugh, to provide 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to teachers. 15. Have a story idea for Nuria? Oklahoma This work is essential to a better-informed community and a healthy democracy. In the wake of a statewide teacher walkout, the Legislature raised teacher salaries by $6,100in 2018 and by $1,200 in 2019. The state board approves the Education Departments budget ask every year. She also questioned what sort of economic downturn it would take to justify tapping state reserves. Kevin Stitt's 2020 State of the State speech, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. New teachers in Texas start at $44,527. Donateonline. Oklahoma Budget FY 2020 Highlights SAVINGS $200 million in Oklahomas savings account, putting Oklahoma on the path to storing two months of expenses, more There was a problem saving your notification. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, filed a bill for the upcoming legislative session to give Oklahoma public school teachers and support staff a raise starting in the 2023-2024 school year. It is clear that the pay raise legislation is intended to give districts the maximum flexibility in implementing pay raises. Oklahoma Phone: 405-528-2465. An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing for a teacher pay raise to combat the states teacher shortage. The Quality Counts report also showed that only six states have a lower share of 18-to-24-year-olds enrolled in postsecondary education than the 48.7 percent enrolled in Oklahoma. The leader of the Oklahoma Senate's Education Committee, I have worked for the Tulsa World since 1990. UPDATED: Teacher Pay Raise & Retirement FAQs | Oklahoma State Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently proposed boosting starting salaries for teachers in her state to $50,000. We already have a teacher shortage, now the pipeline is almost empty. Are any districts exempt from giving a pay raise? NAEP results showed just 25.5 percent of Oklahoma 8th grade students were performing at grade level or better in that subject. This budget request is Hofmeisters last as state superintendent. When considering pay raise amounts, districts are encouraged to ensure that the average across all certified staff members equals a $1,220 increase. The National Education Association published figures in April 2022 showing the average teacher salary to be $66,397 for the 2021-2022 school year. What is the expectation for pay raises in 2019-2020? Teacher Pay Archives - Oklahoma Policy Institute "If we don't get this part right it gets progressively more difficult when students can't read at the later levels," Walters said. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a proposal from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters to base teacher pay raises on merit. And he said the dramatic increase in teacher pay since 2018 has done little or nothing to attract new people to the teaching profession. However, the Governor and legislative leaders stated publicly that the amount appropriated $58,858,503 was intended to fund ten months of a $1,220 pay raise, and they committed to fund it for twelve months next year. More:Epic Charter School changing how it takes attendance after state investigation. The state minimum salary did not increase, and the language pertaining to the 2018-2019 pay raise that explicitly required the raise in addition to what the individual made in the prior year was not renewed. Of those funds appropriated, the State Board of Education shall designate Fifty-eight Million Eight Hundred Fifty-eight Thousand Five Hundred Three Dollars ($58,858,503.00) for increased compensation for certified personnel as defined by Section 26-103 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. SB 1048 identifies certified personnel as defined by 70 O.S. Support Nurias work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Giving Oklahomas teachers a pay raise has been proclaimed as one of the highest priorities of legislators and Governor Mary Fallin this session. 7. First through fourth-year teachers would see $3,000 raises. The measure, which the governor backed, would use excess lottery proceeds to pay for half of a teachers raise. This language is clear in mandating a raise in salary as a part of the base salary and not a one-time bonus or stipend. Senate Bill 482 would raise the base salary for public-school teachers in their first four years of service by $3,000. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. With the appropriation of $58,858,503 and an additional $74,790,265 in funds for operations through the funding formula, the OSDE believes districts will have sufficient funds to follow through with the intent of the Governor and Legislature. 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Posted by SDEmedia on Mon, 06/24/2019 - 4:36pm. This probably isnt the year for an additional pay raise on top of what happened last year, Mazzei said. Teachers in the state earn an average of $54,096 a year. House Bill 2765 and Senate Bill 1048, enacted and signed into law during the 2019 legislative session, establish requirements and opportunities for Oklahoma public schools (LEAs) to prepare for and disseminate annual salary increases to the certified personnel they employ. The Education Departments budget request would remain the same no matter who wins in November, Hofmeister said, but the next superintendent could advocate for different policies. An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing for a teacher pay raise to combat the states teacher shortage. 18. StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. offers matching funds to cover half of a pay raise for teachers, filed Senate Bill 482 to increase minimum salaries, House lawmakers were angry when Walters presented Hofmeister's budget request, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The teacher pay raise would cost the state about $110 million, but Pemberton said given the states $2.8 billion in revenue savings collections, its time to strike while the iron is hot., You need to put your priorities out front, Pemberton said. The requests will continue to the Legislature, which has the final say on state funding of education. But Stitts budget guru hinted that offering retirees a 4% cost-of-living adjustment at a cost of $1 billion could be more generous than the state can afford next year. The average Teacher salary in Oklahoma is $53,527 as of January 26, 2023, but the range typically falls between $44,760 and $65,259. ** Charter schools are exempt from minimum salary requirements. Charter schools are not required to follow the minimum salary schedule. As stated above, the expectation is for certified personnel, as defined in 70 O.S. "Our students deserve educators who arecompensated and respected as the professionals they are. 20. Every day we strive to produce journalism that matters stories that strengthen accountability and transparency, provide value and resonate with readers like you. Pemberton said its up to the legislature to catch Oklahoma up. By December 31, 2019, school districts shall report to the State Department of Education the amount of increase in compensation each teacher received as a result of these funds. Among public school teachers who stopped teaching after March 2020 but before they were scheduled to retire, almost half did so because of the pandemic. There was a problem saving your notification. No state testing was conducted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but experts believe academic outcomes are even worse today in Oklahoma due in part to some schools refusal to return to full-time, in-person learning. $3 million for the governors Quick Action Closing Fund, an economic development fund used to lure businesses and jobs to Oklahoma. Republican Gov. (The Center Square) - Two bills regarding teacher raises await Oklahoma lawmakers when they begin their legislative session next month, and a third proposal for merit-based pay is on the table. The state Board of Education on Thursday approved an overall budget request of $3.51 billion for the state Education Department, lower than Hofmeister's ask of $3.57 billion. Better pay is vital for Oklahomas dwindling teacher workforce, Hofmeister said. 14. Oklahoma Workers at colleges and universities had the next highest level (35%). StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership among Oklahomas public radio stations and relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Read the reports and hear the stories onNPR member stations. A new state law offers matching funds to cover half of a pay raise for teachers who earn certain credentials and mentor their colleagues, but it's unclear whether the criteria to earn an incentive raise would meet the same qualifications for matching funds from the 2022 law. Increased teacher salaries and greater school funding have also had little impact on educational outcomes. Yes. The governor also proposes doubling the capacity of the states Rainy Day Fund so it can hold up to $2 billion. Teachers with 10 through 14 years' experience would receive a $5,000 raise. But by the 2019-2020 school year, the number of teachers fell to 3.2 million and by 2020-2021 to just over 3 million. 1. The same expectation applies to districts that receive only the salary incentive aid and not foundation aid. Oklahomacould reach the second-highest average in the region with$59,000, should the Legislature approve the $5,000 raise. Oklahomas average starting pay of $38,074 is 13th lowest in the country, according to National Education Association. No. If Pembertons bills pass, he said it wouldnt prohibit the legislature from implementing more raises in the future. And I think education, our young people and our teachers need to be a priority.. Educators in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado already earn more on average than teachers in Oklahoma. At 88, Inhofe says he intends to still be involved in politics but admits to still suffering the long-term effects of COVID-19. SB 1048 appropriates $58,858,503 to be used for the purpose of providing an increase in compensation for certified personnel. This funding comes from the total amount appropriated to the financial support of public schools from the General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Bill, HB 2765. By: Alex Cameron. Pemberton said its up to the legislature to catch Oklahoma up. To explore this issue, eSpark looked at the numbers behind teacher shortages, citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Education's Higher Education Act Title II State Report Card System. Oklahoma teachers and state employees will not receive pay raises next year under a budget proposal from Gov. I know that the Legislature wants to see high outcomes for students, and certainly the Legislature understands that we have to make a priority with kids and their education, Hofmeister said after Thursdaysboard meeting. "How bad do things have to get for us to use the money that weve got in the savings account for the needs of the people of Oklahoma?" Oklahoma teachers have been given raises over the last four years totalling more than $7,000. Stitts budget also proposes squirreling away an additional $100 million into state reserve accounts. Walters' budget plan differs from the version his predecessor, Joy Hofmeister, put together. The state Board of Education has approved 3,593emergency teaching certifications this year, including a record number issued in a single month this summer, indicating traditionally qualified teacher candidates are still hard to come by. Outside candidates. The intent is clear and the OSDE supports this expectation. She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. We are hurting for people., Director, Center for Independent Journalism. I think the market is telling us that were short of teachers, and the market is telling us the teaching profession overall is not an attractive profession to step into, he said during the committee hearing. The sharpest drops came in specialty subjects such as bilingual education, math, science, and special education. A districts salary averages are affected by both its salary policies and the experience level of its teachers. Therefore, pay increases in the 2019-2020 school year must be in addition to the teachers step increase based on years of experience and degree level. Oklahoma teachers Gov. When Hofmeister was first elected in 2014, she askedthe Legislature to add a $5,000 teacher pay increase on top ofthe budget request from the prior superintendents administration. The cost for a $1,200 pay raise for twelve months is $70,630,204. An additional salary increase averaging $1,220 passed in 2019 is not reflected here; funding for that raise was added to the funding formula, and the minimum salary schedule didnt change. Stitts budget proposes funding $25.3 million in gubernatorial priorities. The new state superintendent will present his budget request to House and Senate lawmakers in the following weeks. The drop in education employment resulting from the pandemic was the largest ever.
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