OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill that would increase teacher pay in Oklahoma passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 1780 would provide a $1,200 across the board pay raise for public school teachers, which would come in addition to the pay raises given to teachers during the 2018 legislative session after the teacher walkout.
“I have said many times that the pay raise last year was a good first step, but my goal is to get our teachers to number one in the region in pay,” said Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. “This bill helps us get closer to that goal. House Republicans have made a commitment to our teachers and we are going to follow through. Better pay not only shows our teachers that they are valued, but it also helps us recruit and attract new teachers to the profession and retain the experienced teachers we already have.”
The teacher pay raise measure comes up at the support of new governor Kevin Stitt, who mentioned it as a priority during his State of the State address.
Last year, the legislature approved a $5,000 pay raise for a first-year teacher with a Bachelor’s degree to an $8,400 pay raise for a teacher with 25 years of experience and a Doctorate degree. The average pay raise last session was $6,100.
The bill, which passed out committee with a 26-0 vote, now heads to the House floor for full consideration.
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere.
Download our free app for Apple and Android and Kindle devices.
Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News, Severe Weather, School Closings, Daily Headlines and Daily Forecasts.
