As lawmakers propose permanent raises for teachers, educators fear it’s not enough
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After two years of temporary grants, lawmakers are now pushing a permanent raise to Missouri teachers' base salary. However, Missouri educators don't think it's enough to keep the state competitive.
A bipartisan and bicameral effort is underway in Jefferson City to permanently raise the starting salary for Missouri educators to $38,000. Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur from Kansas City and Republican Rep. Willard Haley from Eldon introduced similar bills to make the new base salary permanent.
“As states like Arkansas increase their starting teachers’ salary to $50,000 annually, Missouri’s starting salary of $25,000 is not competitive," Arthur said. "My legislation will permanently raise teacher pay to help keep quality educators in every Missouri classroom.”
For the past two years, the Missouri legislature has renewed funding for grants to school districts to bring up their starting teacher salaries to $38,000. Many larger districts already pay above that level, but for rural districts that cannot afford this on their own, it's only a temporary Band-Aid.
Missouri still sits at the bottom nationwide when it comes to teacher salaries, even with the raise.
"We've been at the bottom of new teacher salaries and average teacher salaries for all states for way too long, and frankly, it's embarrassing. We're going to have to do something to be competitive. Salaries is where it's going to have to start," said Todd Fuller with the Missouri State Teachers Association.
Gov. Mike Parson made raising starting teacher pay a priority in 2022. The state-matched grant was passed, and over 6,300 teachers across 350 school districts use the grant. The state pays for 70% and school districts must cover the rest, but the state money is not permanent.
In 2023, $7 million was approved in the state budget to continue that baseline salary grant.
Tipton R-VI School District Superintendent Terry Robinson said rural districts have difficulty keeping up with larger districts. The starting salary in Tipton is the base $38,000, but at Columbia Public Schools it starts at $40,900.
"You are going to see more local support in metropolitan areas," Robinson said. "In general, a rural setting can be a place where a teacher gets their start and then we either lose them to another profession or we lose them to larger districts."
Tipton is having a meeting Wednesday night where the school will ask for a tax levy increase to keep pace with other school districts its size.
Robinson said a $38,000 salary still is not enough to ensure quality, qualified educators will stay in Missouri.
"We’re not just hiring babysitters, we’re hiring professionals that build all other future professionals," Robinson said.
One thing Robinson said could help the future of education in Missouri, aside from raises, is consistency. Rural districts like Tipton wonder how they can continue that salary if the grant is not continued.
"A competitive salary can’t be determined by the state then left on the shelf for 10 years, or appropriated then not fully funded," Robinson said. "It should be revisited each year, adjusted when necessary and then fully funded - especially in light of inflation."
