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Jackson, Miss. — New teachers with a bachelor’s degree and other qualifications would start at $37,000 a year under legislation passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee today.
Senate Bill 2001 would raise the minimum statutory salaries for all teachers by $1,000 a year, except for teachers with a single “A” license, who would receive $1,110. The legislation now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration.
“The House had the leadership to begin resolving the $18.4 million deficit from last year’s teacher pay raise as soon as the 2020 Session started, and the Senate wanted to send a similar message to our public educators this year. The message is one of support and respect,” Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann said. “I appreciate the leadership Chairman Dennis DeBar and Vice Chairman David Blount have shown working together on this important legislation.”
Hosemann and committee leadership support studying teacher pay once the session ends to review best practices in other states and develop a plan moving forward.
“We are facing a teacher shortage in many of our districts which is reaching a critical level. Part of turning this dire situation around is monetary. Our teachers are doing some of the most important work in our State, and they deserve to be properly compensated for it,” DeBar said. “I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the House on this and other education issues.”
To track Senate Bill 2001’s progress, visit: http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2020/pdf/history/SB/SB2001.xml. To learn more about Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.
