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Senate committee backs $25 million teacher salary equalization fund to narrow pay gaps
Summary
Senate Bill 504 to create a teacher salary equalization categorical fund won committee approval. The bill establishes a per-student multiplier and combines existing enhanced-salary funding with a $10 million public-school-fund allocation; educators' groups praised the measure as a tool to recruit and retain teachers.
The Senate Education Committee voted to advance SB 504, a measure to create a teacher salary equalization categorical fund intended to close disparities in average teacher pay across Arkansas.
Sponsor Senator Irving said the bill — which the fiscal note lists at $25 million total, including $10 million from the Public School Fund — responds to the pay gaps the state adequacy process identified. Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key described the approach as a new categorical fund that directs dollars in a per-student allocation (the bill uses a $185 per-student multiplier in the example) to districts that need help raising average salaries.
Carol Fleming, president of the Arkansas Education Association, urged support and tied the proposal to teacher recruitment and retention, saying she was proud to see the bill presented: "I can't tell you how much more proud I am to be sitting here at this table with the presentation of this bill," she told the committee.
Committee members asked about interplay with prior minimum-salary changes and how districts that recently met past requirements would interact with the new average-target funding. Secretary Key said the fund is intended as a categorical stream to help districts work toward the target average without creating a hard statutory minimum requirement; adjustments to the target can be made periodically.
The committee voted to pass the bill by voice vote.
Next steps: SB 504 will move forward for additional legislative consideration; the Department of Education will coordinate guidance and monitoring for districts that receive equalization funding.
