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Senate panel hears testimony backing pay parity for school-based occupational therapists
Summary
SB 279 would create a consistent salary baseline for school-based occupational therapists to improve recruitment and retention; multiple practitioners testified that current pay does not reflect graduate-level training and urged passage.
Senator Poore presented SB 279 to the Senate Education Committee, saying the bill seeks to create a uniform salary baseline for school-based occupational therapists (OTs) by clarifying how master’s and doctoral degrees are treated on the Delaware salary schedule and allowing additional credit-based increments for continuing coursework.
Sponsor testimony highlighted workforce challenges and inconsistent salary treatment that can make recruitment and retention difficult. Several practicing school-based OTs delivered one-minute public comments in support: Kendall Webb described the OT role in supporting fine-motor and self-regulation skills that allow students to access learning; Jessica Horner, who completed a 64-credit master’s program, urged legislators to align OT compensation with other specialists; Warner Warren described a 25-year career and said he took a significant pay cut to work in schools and urged pay recognition to keep experienced clinicians in classrooms.
The committee did not take a final vote; the chair said the bills circulated would be held for further work as needed. Supporters asked the committee to move the bill forward to ensure OTs receive compensation that reflects their advanced training and the specialized services they provide inside schools.
