Today, SB 2444, the Senate’s teacher pay raise bill, passed both the Senate Education and Appropriations committees, another step toward more competitive pay for Mississippi teachers. The bill differs slightly from the proposal as first announced, increasing the 25-year bump for all teachers to $2,500.
The Senate plan, which would be phased in over two years, provides:
• Minimum starting salary of $39,000 in 2022-2023 and $40,000 thereafter
• $500 annual step increases for all teachers, beginning in year 1
• Larger increases at five-year intervals (years 5, 10, 15, 20, & 25)
– Class A (Bachelor’s degree) 5-year interval bumps – $1,325; $2,500 at year 25
– Class AA (Master’s degree) 5-year interval bumps – $1,425; $2,500 at year 25
– Class AAA (Specialist degree) 5-year interval bumps – $1,525; $2,500 at year 25
– Class AAAA (Doctorate) 5-year interval bumps – $1,625; $2,500 at year 25
• Average salary increase of $4,785 when fully phased in
• Total cost of ~$210-million
The Parents’ Campaign supports this bill, and we are grateful to Senate Education Chairman DeBar and Lt. Governor Hosemann for making teacher pay a Senate priority. The bill is likely to be taken up for a vote on the Senate floor tomorrow. Please ask your senator to VOTE YES on SB 2444!
Things are moving quickly in this legislative session, and there is lots to keep up with. You can check the status of bills we are following at any time on our Bill Tracker web page: https://msparentscampaign.org/bill-tracker/, and you can watch the livestream of legislative floor debate via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MississippiLegislature. Senate committee debate is also livestreamed on the same YouTube channel.
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) will hold a public hearing on proposed changes to the social studies curriculum at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 28, in the Sparkman Auditorium of the Mississippi Agricultural Museum in Jackson. Those wishing to speak at the hearing must register by 9:00 a.m. on January 25. See MDE’s proposed changes, beginning on page 163.
We promise to keep you posted on the progress of important bills that affect our students and teachers, and will let you know when we need your help. Because together, we’ve got this!
