Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Pay topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board raises minimum teacher salary to $47,000 and approves multiple policy items
Summary
The State Board approved a 2025–26 minimum salary schedule raising the base from $44,500 to $47,000 and approved several course, assessment and policy updates, including CTE standards and approvals of school recognitions.
The State Board of Education approved a new state minimum salary schedule that raises the base pay for licensed educators to $47,000 for the 2025–26 school year, funded from $125 million in restricted Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) improvements.
Maryanne Derski, the department’s chief financial officer, said the increase represents a $2,500 rise over the prior minimum and is intended to improve compensation for educators near the state floor. Based on April 2025 TISA projections, the department estimated about 80 local education agencies would need to raise at least one level of their local salary schedules to comply, affecting roughly 2,745 educators.
The board also approved multiple items on final reading, including career and technical education course standards that add energy and sustainable-resources offerings and a mathematics practicum course required by statute; literacy and specialty-area standards for educator preparation; and updates to approved high-school course listings. The board recognized six National Blue Ribbon Schools and two National ESEA Distinguished Schools in a ceremonial presentation.
Why it matters: The salary increase sets a statewide floor that local districts must meet; departments and districts said restricted TISA dollars should cover the required increases for affected LEAs but encouraged local flexibility in compensation design.
What’s next: Districts required to meet the new minimum will adjust local schedules; the department will monitor implementation. The board also directed staff to continue rulemaking hearings and stakeholder outreach on other items previously approved on first reading.
