NAEP results showed just 25.5 percent of Oklahoma 8th grade students were performing at grade level or better in that subject. Lawmakers approved an average teacher pay raise of $6,100 in 2018 and added another $1,200 in 2019. Oklahoma teachers Teacher Salary Despite recent legislative efforts to bolster salaries, a 2020-2021 pay analysis found that Oklahoma now ranks in the bottom half of states in teacher compensation, fourth in the region, 45th nationally in per-pupil expenditures, and dead last in what it pays support professionals. The Senate Appropriations Committee also passed Senate Bill 522, again by Pugh, which would provide a $500 stipend to mentor teachers, regardless of how many people they mentor. What legislation requires salary increases for certified personnel?House Bill 2765 is the General Appropriations bill, and as it relates to salary increases for certified personnel in the public schools, it provides: SECTION 1. There is no language in either bill requiring pay raises to begin September 1. At 88, Inhofe says he intends to still be involved in politics but admits to still suffering the long-term effects of COVID-19. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature. The plan differs from one approved by the State Board of Education in September when it voted to asklawmakers for a $5,000 raise for state teachers. He did not say what student performance measures would be used as evaluating tools, nor how school districts would be expected to implement the program. In a press conference before the start of the Legislative Session, he estimated the maternity leave measure to cost $25 million. Pemberton said its up to the legislature to catch Oklahoma up. Lawmakers are also introducing bills that would give teachers pay raises. A Wall Street Journal analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that as of last November, resignations in educational work including teachers grew faster than in any other industry. Click here to donate online to support our journalism. Senate Bill 482, if passed, would prompt the state's first wage increase in four years for Oklahoma teachers. (Emphasis added). (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. By: David Blatt. This probably isnt the year for an additional pay raise on top of what happened last year, Mazzei said. The expectation is for all LEAs, including those not receiving state appropriated dollars through the funding formula (commonly referred to as off the formula districts). However, the Governor and legislative leaders stated publicly that the amount appropriated Oklahoma A majority of the school districts in the state do not pay over the minimum salary schedule, he said. The appropriated amount covers ten months of that estimate. Between the 1999-2000 and the 2017-2018 school years, the number of full- and part-time public school teachers rose 18% to 3.5 million teachers, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Budget & Tax Only five states had a lower share of students scoring proficient in 8th grade math than Oklahoma. Did the state minimum salary schedule change in the 2019 Legislative Session? A districts salary averages are affected by both its salary policies and the experience level of its teachers. More:State Superintendent Ryan Walters wants teacher pay raises tied to student performance. The Courts opinion, effectively striking Referendum Petition 25 Minimums and averages include benefits such as retirement plans and health, dental, vision and life insurance. Oklahomas average starting pay of $38,074 is 13th lowest in the country, according to National Education Association. Kevin Stitts State of the State speech, Stitt asks lawmakers for $100 million to fund education during ongoing gaming dispute, Oklahoma Democrats respond to Stitt's State of the State address, Read Oklahoma Gov. Asked if Stitt would support a$5,000 teacher pay increase across the board, his spokesperson reflected on past initiatives. Outside candidates. You have permission to edit this article. WebTeachers Retirement System 301 NW 63rd Street, Suite 500 Oklahoma City, OK 73116-7921 Toll-free at 877-738-6365 (TRS-RET-OFOK) or in Oklahoma City at 405-521-2387. The proposed budget appropriates The earliest SoonerCare 2.0 could take effect would be in fiscal year 2022 because it will take time for the state to apply for the federal waiver and prepare for the expansion, he said. Gov. 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. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, introduced a comprehensive education package last week that includes a bill allocating $241 million for teacher pay raises. SB 1048 plainly states that, [t]he salary increase provided for in this section shall be in addition to, and not as a replacement for, the step increase indicated for the certified employee pursuant to the State Minimum Salary Schedule. (Emphasis added.) The declines were 80% in Oklahoma, 67% in Michigan, 62% in Pennsylvania, 61% in Delaware, 60% in Illinois, 55% in Idaho, 54% in Indiana and New Mexico, and 51% in Rhode Island. The starting annual salary for an Oklahoma teacher is $38,074, and the average salary is $54,762, according to theNational Education Association. Oklahoma teacher say $2,500 pay raise not enough Franke, an educator of 20 years, said shed be happy with $2,500 as long as it goes into the Oklahomas minimum 8. Educators in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado already earn more on average than teachers in Oklahoma. Mazzei said the governor is hoping to tackle broad tax code changes next year so he plans to shy away from approving new tax credits this year. Oklahoma must address its teacher shortage and compete with surrounding states that also are mulling pay increases, Pugh said. Oklahoma teacher say $2,500 pay raise not enough | News Increased teacher salaries and greater school funding have also had little impact on educational outcomes. And I think education, our young people and our teachers need to be a priority.. 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. Previous pay raisesfor all educatorshave proven to increase qualitycandidates tothe profession.". | MORE | Hofmeister says Oklahoma teachers should get $5,000 pay raise to stay competitive. 14. That means ensuring weve got the people and that investment in the (teacher) workforce., More:Superintendent election a 'battle' for future of Oklahoma public education. Bordering states of Texas, Colorado and New Mexico pay more on average than Oklahoma, while Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas pay less, the state agency reported. This story originally appeared on eSpark and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. We figured the amount that (the $5,000 raise)would cost and made that ask in addition, she said Thursday. Ateachersminimum starting salary would, for the first time, exceed $40,000 in the state. A survey released in February 2022 by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education found that in both the fall of 2020 and the fall of 2021, 20% of undergraduate-level teaching programs saw a drop in enrollment. 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. 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. Furthermore, wages that are not keeping up with inflationcombined with increased levels of stress and anxietyare forcing some teachers from the profession. We already have a teacher shortage, now the pipeline is almost empty. 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.. There are 9,000 teachers that are currently eligible for retirement this year, said Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Over time they were able to work to accomplish that.. Oklahoma Thats not my job. Senate Bill 28 would give teachers $6,000 over 9 years, divided into three $2,000 raises. 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. We had over 600 teaching positions we couldnt fill this last year, and with the possibility of retirements this year after the three-year teacher high on the new teacher pay raises, we could see a lot higher retirements, so were going to have trouble filling, said Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee. Investigates: Oklahoma Still Losing Teachers Despite Pay Raises The Senate committee unanimously passed another of Pughs bills that would grant 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to full-time public-school employees. 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. Fish, Oklahoman, Oklahoma Supreme Court rules school districts, not governor, should decide mask mandates, Superintendent election a 'battle' for future of Oklahoma public education, some teachers to be paid $100,000 or more, Epic Charter School changing how it takes attendance after state investigation, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The nearly $8.1 billion spending plan does not include an additional $163 million in one-time spending. Districts can decide if they want to give staff a one-time pay increase of $1,200 or a one-time increase in an amount based on performance or the need to retain staff. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, a retired educator, introduced a bill in December that would give teachers a $2,000 annual raise for the 2023-2024, 2026-2027 and 2029-2030 school years. Pemberton said its up to the legislature to catch Oklahoma up. No. neighboring states. Effects on the number of teachers employed soon reflected the decline in teaching degrees awarded. She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. 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 the state board in September agreed to pass her $5,000 raise request to lawmakers. It expressly states: SECTION 1. She also questioned what sort of economic downturn it would take to justify tapping state reserves. 1. 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. Oklahoma Budget FY 2020 Highlights SAVINGS $200 million in Oklahomas savings account, putting Oklahoma on the path to storing two months of expenses, more Matt Pinnells efforts to create a cohesive brand for the state. 2023 Oklahoma Council Of Public Affairs. State Superintendent Ryan Walters wants teacher pay raises tied to student performance, Oklahoman finalist for National Teacher of the Year says cooperation is key to future, said Oklahoma should offer incentive-based raises, suggested the state spend $241 million on his pay-raise plan, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Particularly hard-hit were Midwestern and Rust Belt states, as well as seeming outliers such as Alaska and Florida, whose Department of Education outlined critical shortages in no fewer than eight subject areas going into the 2019-2020 school year. Part of the increase, should lawmakers give the OK, would include a $100 million investment in kindergarten through third-grade literacy. I want to see the numbers, said Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, chairperson of the House budget committee on education. Whoops! "We had 3,338 emergency certifications last year," 13. OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma State Department of Education will include a $5,000 teacher pay raise in its annual budget request during the state board of education's upcoming meeting. How much of a salary increase should certified personnel receive? It also found that more than three-quarters had increased their teaching and nonteaching staff to levels exceeding those before the pandemic. We can ascertain from the final result of the appropriation that the Legislature intended for districts to have flexibility on how raises are distributed to staff. As stated above, the expectation is for certified personnel, as defined in 70 O.S. The vast majority of those funds would pass through the agency to public schools. State reserves sit at just over $1 billion after Stitt directed the state to save an additional $200,000 last year, an idea that was hotly debated. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU, with broadcasts heard on NPR Member stations. The sharpest drops came in specialty subjects such as bilingual education, math, science, and special education. Stitts budget proposes funding $25.3 million in gubernatorial StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. If a district already pays the employee retirement contribution, the raise is expected to be in addition to that contribution. In the wake of a statewide teacher walkout, the Legislature raised teacher salaries by $6,100in 2018 and by $1,200 in 2019. In SB 1048, the OSDE is required to make a report of pay raises given in 2019-2020. No, while principals and other administrators could receive a raise under these provisions, they are not required to receive a raise. Lawmakers are open to the idea of merit pay, Pugh said, but weve got to raise the floor of educator salaries. 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. No later than February 1, 2020, the State Department of Education shall make this data available on its website for public viewing and shall submit a report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The teacher-shortage figure of 600 cited by Pemberton exceeds the shortages reported prior to the 2018 tax increases and pay raises. How will OSDE calculate underpaid teachers in FY 20? Some House lawmakers were angry when Walters presented Hofmeister's budget request, not his own, in a hearing at the Capitol on Tuesday. Ray Carter is the director of OCPAs Center for Independent Journalism. A working paper from Brown University's Annenberg Institute released in March 2022 cautioned that limited data had "led to considerable uncertainty and conflicting reports about the nature of staffing challenges in schools." Is the increase including or in addition to the step? The new superintendent nixed Hofmeister's proposed $5,000 across-the-board teacher pay raise, which would have cost nearly $310 million. The Senate Education Committee passed the bill from chairperson Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, without objection. 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. 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. An Oklahoma lawmaker is pushing for a teacher pay raise to combat the states teacher shortage. While HB 1010xx gave support professionals a $1,250 pay raise, it was well short of the $5,000 they asked for. Have a story idea for Nuria? The Edmond senator has suggested the state spend $241 million on his pay-raise plan and another $300 million on further education reforms. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, filed a bill for the The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a proposal from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters to base teacher pay raises on merit. Some or all of those funds could be combined with other funding sources to provide state retirees a cost-of-living adjustment a top priority for state legislators, Mazzei said. The aforementioned legislation makes clear that certified personnel, as defined in 70 O.S. But it isnt possible without your support. combined with more legislative efforts this year will start attracting new teachers and retaining current teachers. Stitt approves revised incentive package to lure major company, Incentive package tweaks are on fast track as multibillion-dollar company eyes Pryor site, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities, Scientists reveal hidden corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza. Gov. 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. Instead, he suggested the state spend $150 million to offer incentive pay raises for teachers who are highly rated based on their students' performance, classroom practices and time spent in professional development, such as achieving National Board Certification. House legal staff instructed Walters to present his predecessor's budget plan, which he promised to change, because the state Board of Education hadn't yet approved an amendment to it. pay raise February 18, 2016 // Updated: May 2, 2019. This session, education support professionals must be a bigger part of our conversations about how to The plan could cost $150 million. Oklahoma teachers earn an average of $54,000 a year, which ranks fourth among all bordering states. Stitt unveiled Monday his executive budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The raise is estimated to cost $310 million with the price of insurance and retirement benefits included. How is the pay raise funded? A survey by the RAND Corporation discovered that 90% of school districts had changed operations in one or more schools during the 20212022 school year because of teacher shortages. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four yearsincluding awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. You have permission to edit this article. Senate Bill 482, by Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, would increase the minimum teacher salary schedule. Oklahoma starts its minimum salary scale at $36,601 for first-year educators. The measure would move the starting teacher pay to $39,601 from $36,601. However, the minimum salary schedule did not change, and the salary increase provided through HB 2765 and SB 1048 does not place them on the Minimum Salary Schedule. "We're running about the same number this year. The leader of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, filed Senate Bill 482 to increase minimum salaries by $3,000 for teachers with under 15 years of experience and by $6,000 for educators with a 15-year career or longer. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Teacher Salaries by District - Oklahoma Watch 2011-2023 Oklahoma Public Media Exchange. The state's largest teachers union, the Oklahoma Education Association, said educator salaries should be competitive with the rest of the region. In the decade preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, most states saw moderate to more significant drops in students seeking teaching degrees. As such, the salary increase is effective July 1, 2019. The budget proposal includes $11 million to annualize the teacher pay raises appropriated this year. The Oklahoma State Board of Education, with three new voting members sworn in, approved Walters' budget request on Thursday for the 2024 fiscal year. Summer months tend to be a time for reflectionthe school year has come to a close and the accumulation of the academic year's trials and stresses can be looked at more objectivelythus it is a period that sees teachers leaving the profession. The state has too many needs that have been unmet, Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd said. "Our students deserve educators who are compensated and respected as the professionals they are. School Personnel Salary Information | Oklahoma State Then cast your vote, Bill Haisten: A massive event NCAA wrestling in downtown Tulsa, Owasso teacher of the year Q&A: Kari Huff, Ram Academy, Drug dealing and federal prison now behind him, Tulsan earning praise for fatherhood support initiative, 2 hospitalized in Missouri crash involving General Lee car from Dukes of Hazzard, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Jim Inhofe looks back on his career: 'I really wanted to make a difference, and I did', State Sen. Nathan Dahm spars with Jon Stewart over Second Amendment, Oklahoma House passes gender-affirming treatment bill, Gov. Senate Bill 28 would give teachers $6,000 over 9 years, divided into three $2,000 raises. Oklahoma Kevin Stitt claimed it could cause some teachers to be paid $100,000 or more, though this would fall on the extreme end of the bills capacity. As such, the expectation for charter schools with certified personnel remains the same as for all districts. Outside candidates. The number of students completing teacher education programs fell by more than one-third between 2008 and 2019, according to a 2022 report by the AACTE. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. There is no language in either bill requiring pay raises to begin September 1. Employer Reporting: Direct Line: 405-522-3130 Email: helpdesk@trs.ok.gov In fact, in many ways Oklahoma schools are flush with more cash than at any time in recent memory. 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. More than 42,500 teachers worked in Oklahoma public schools last year. (Though midyear quitting does occur, as well.) And he said the dramatic increase in teacher pay since 2018 has done little or nothing to attract new people to the teaching profession. Section 1 of HB 2765 and all of SB 1048 are effective July 1, 2019. Board members voted unanimously and agreed that more needs to be done for teachers. I cover politics, appellate courts, state agencies and the governor. No. * An interlocal cooperative, or ILC, is an educational service organization than handles duties for a group of school districts or counties. Oklahoma teachers received a raise in pay in 2018, which is reflected in the table below. OKLAHOMA CITY The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday passed a teacher pay raise bill and other measures designed to keep educators in the classroom. The teacher pay raise bill will take effect on Aug. 1, and will do so regardless of any referendum petition. The $8.3 billion fiscal year 2020 budget is the largest in state history and includes about $500 million in new state spending. 7. The compromise at the end of session was as follows: districts would receive funding for pay raises, and be expected, but not required, to give an average $1,220 raise, to be annualized in future years. At the end of the 2020 state budget year, Oklahoma school Can this be paid as a stipend/bonus? Please subscribe to keep reading. 1 in the region this year. When considering pay raise amounts, districts are encouraged to ensure that the average across all certified staff members equals a $1,220 increase. If Pembertons bills pass, he said it wouldnt prohibit the legislature from implementing more raises in the future. She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Districts can decide if they want to give staff a one-time pay increase of $1,200 or a one-time increase in an amount based on performance or the need to retain staff. UPDATED: Teacher Pay Raise & Retirement FAQs | Oklahoma State Read the reports and hear the stories onNPR member stations. Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. 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. The same expectation applies to districts that receive only the salary incentive aid and not foundation aid. That means ensuring weve got the people and that investment in the (teacher) workforce.. Pemberton said he hopes measures passed last year like the, Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Initiative Program. Fast-track transportation projects to improve rural, two-lane highways and high-volume urban interchanges by taking advantage of federal loan programs. StateImpact Oklahoma isa collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU. What is the expectation for pay raises in 2019-2020? "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?" Kevin Stitt on Thursday approved changes to a $698 million economic development incentive package in an effort to lure a mega-manufacture, The Legislature is working on adjustments to the state's LEAD Act to lure a company reported to be Volkswagen to bring thousands of jobs w. 20. 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. she said. would give teachers $6,000 over 9 years, divided into three $2,000 raises. 26-103, to receive the salary increase, regardless of whether employed by a traditional public or public charter school. The measure also passed the committee unanimously.. 4. Who is required to receive a salary increase? The association is not backing the merit plan. There is hereby appropriated to the State Board of Education from any monies not otherwise appropriated from the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, the sum of One Billion Four Hundred Seventy-eight Million One Hundred Five Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($1,478,105,700.00) or so much thereof as may be necessary for the financial support of public schools. 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. In addition, Senate Bill 1048 is the budget limits bill for the State Board of Education. He toldThe Center Squarehe hoped the pay raises would alleviate the state's teacher shortage. Better pay is vital for Oklahomas dwindling teacher workforce, Hofmeister said. The $3.51 billion request would increase state education funding by about $330 million over current levels. She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Oklahoma schools don't have enough support staff to meet needs, and their salaries are far too low averaging just $21,583 a year.