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Joint education committee debates $4,000 teacher raise, special‑education gap and differentiated pay; no final vote
Summary
Members of a joint House–Senate education committee presented competing plans to raise teacher pay, reform special‑education funding and allow differentiated pay models; Representative Evans outlined a package that committee members said could be enacted with an emergency clause, but the panel took no final vote and must file its adequacy report by Nov. 1.
Madam Chair opened a working meeting of the joint Education Committee and invited legislators to present draft recommendations on the state adequacy report, focusing largely on teacher compensation and special‑education funding.
Representative Godfrey urged the committee to deliver a $4,000 raise to classroom teachers, saying an increase "is an absolutely urgent need" and proposing options including a $4.25 per‑pupil boost or a $42,000 minimum salary. She also cited a gap between district special‑education spending and designated foundation funding, stating that districts spend about "$508,000,000" while the designated foundation funding is only "$189,000,000," and urged either more funded SPED FTEs or a new per‑pupil categorical for special education.
Senator Chesterfield proposed a $46,000 starting salary for teachers and a $20‑per‑hour minimum…
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