Education Department faces backlash over unpaid salaries for thousands of teachers in Puerto Rico
January 31, 2024 | Senate, Committees, Legislative, Puerto Rico
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During a recent public meeting held on January 31, 2024, the Senate Education, Tourism, and Culture Commission addressed critical issues surrounding teacher salary revisions and claims in the education sector. The discussions revealed significant delays and inconsistencies in the payment processes for educators, raising concerns about the department's adherence to regulations.
The meeting highlighted that the Department of Education has not accepted salary revision requests submitted by teachers since February 2023. This has left many educators without the retroactive payments they are owed. Specifically, hundreds of teachers have yet to receive notifications regarding their activation and reactivation requests, with 812 educators receiving generic denial notices that lacked specific reasons for their rejections.
Furthermore, the commission noted that while 952 teachers were activated in February 2023, they only received a prospective payment of $192.50, which represents a mere 7% of the current base salary of $2,750. In November 2023, approximately 2,900 teachers received similar payments, but again, these were not retroactive as required by regulation, which states that payments should date back to September 1, 2023. This oversight means that the department owes these educators significant amounts of back pay.
The commission also pointed out that over 7,000 teachers have not received payments related to their activations and reactivations due to incomplete evaluation processes. Despite previous communications from the department clarifying the procedures for special education teachers, the department has failed to provide a transparent list of pending payments, further complicating the situation.
The discussions underscored the urgent need for the Department of Education to address these payment issues and ensure compliance with established regulations. As the commission continues to monitor the situation, the implications for educators and the overall education system remain significant, highlighting the necessity for timely and fair compensation for teachers serving in critical roles.
The meeting highlighted that the Department of Education has not accepted salary revision requests submitted by teachers since February 2023. This has left many educators without the retroactive payments they are owed. Specifically, hundreds of teachers have yet to receive notifications regarding their activation and reactivation requests, with 812 educators receiving generic denial notices that lacked specific reasons for their rejections.
Furthermore, the commission noted that while 952 teachers were activated in February 2023, they only received a prospective payment of $192.50, which represents a mere 7% of the current base salary of $2,750. In November 2023, approximately 2,900 teachers received similar payments, but again, these were not retroactive as required by regulation, which states that payments should date back to September 1, 2023. This oversight means that the department owes these educators significant amounts of back pay.
The commission also pointed out that over 7,000 teachers have not received payments related to their activations and reactivations due to incomplete evaluation processes. Despite previous communications from the department clarifying the procedures for special education teachers, the department has failed to provide a transparent list of pending payments, further complicating the situation.
The discussions underscored the urgent need for the Department of Education to address these payment issues and ensure compliance with established regulations. As the commission continues to monitor the situation, the implications for educators and the overall education system remain significant, highlighting the necessity for timely and fair compensation for teachers serving in critical roles.
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