OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a measure Thursday that would increase Oklahoma teachers' pay.
House Bill 1780 would provide a raise of $1,200 to public school teachers.
“Our goal is to get our teachers to the highest pay in the region, and this raise moves us closer to that goal,” said Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “We have to address our teacher shortage, and that is going to take a multifaceted approach. Pay is one aspect of that approach. We need better pay to show our current teachers that we value their service, and we need to be able to encourage new teachers to enter the profession and retain those experienced, veteran teachers that we already have.”
McCall also said several other measures are on the horizon - $1,000 tax credit for teacher supplies, retired teachers to return to the classroom at a much higher salary than currently allowed, increase the “in lieu of” amount for teachers that opt out of receiving the flex benefit allowance and allow school districts to pay student teachers.
The bill passed out of the House by a vote of 94-0 and now heads to the Senate.
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