Oklahoma teachers could get pay raise from $541 million proposed education plan

Oklahoma lawmakers could raise public school teacher pay for the first time in four years.

The leader of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Adam Pugh, proposed on Wednesday spending $241 million to increase teachers' minimum salaries. Pugh's Senate Bill 482 would raise wages by $3,000 and by $6,000 for teachers with at least 15 years of experience.

Oklahoma teachers earn an average of $54,000 — similar to the regional average of $53,600 but below the national average of $64,000, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Lawmakers last approved a teacher pay raise in 2019, offering $1,200 on top of the $6,100 boost from 2018.

Pugh, R-Edmond, announced a 13-bill, $541 million plan to improve Oklahoma public schools, recruit teacher candidates and retain current school staff.

Both Senate and House lawmakers, as well as the governor, would have to approve Pugh's proposal before it could become reality. The Legislative Session begins Feb. 6.

The education committee leader suggested spending $25 million to offer teachers 12 weeks of maternity leave, $5 million to give mentor teachers $500 stipends and $15 million to support scholarships for future teachers who pledge to work in high-poverty schools, among other initiatives. Pugh's agenda did not include a provision for private school vouchers.

"I hope this plan demonstrates to teachers that we respect the work that they do," Pugh said in a Capitol news conference.

Oklahoma teacher pay raise plans would be less than amount proposed by Joy Hofmeister in 2022

Another Senate Education Committee member, Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, also filed a bill to increase teachers' base salaries. Pemberton, R-Muskogee, suggested in Senate Bill 28 an initial increase of $2,000 next school year and two more $2,000 raises over the next six years.

Former state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister and the Oklahoma State Board of Education requested a $5,000 raise for public school teachers in October. Hofmeister urged lawmakers to boost wages to help resolve the state’s chronic teacher shortage.

The state's new schools superintendent, Ryan Walters, didn't immediately return a request for comment Thursday on Pugh's pay raise plan. He will develop his own budget request for state education funding that is likely to differ from Hofmeister's.

In October, Gov. Kevin Stitt called it an "easy cop-out" to say raising teacher pay would automatically improve academic outcomes.

"We can always do better, and we'll continue to do that," Stitt said in an education forum at the time. "We are more competitive than sometimes people think."

On the campaign trail before the November General Election, Stitt and Walters often praised a new law they supported that offers districts matching funds to cover 50% of a teacher's raise if the educator achieves certain credentials and mentors other colleagues.

Democratic lawmakers said the plan didn't go far enough to address school needs.

“There’s no one in this room that doesn’t want to pay teachers more,” Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said before voting in favor of the measure last February. “For per-pupil expenditures, we’re still not even at the middle of the pack. We’re still in last place.”

Pitch for higher salary comes amid Oklahoma teacher shortage

For years, the state has ranked behind all of its neighbors in per-student spending, which is the chief factor that determines school budgets.

Meanwhile, a chronic shortage of teachers appeared to worsen this school year.

Oklahoma issued a record-high 4,281 emergency certifications since June, topping the 3,863 given out for the 2021-22 school year, according to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. Emergency certifications, a common bellwether for the shortage, allows a person with a bachelor’s degree but no formal teacher training to enter the classroom.

Use of adjunct teachers, who are not required to have a college degree or classroom experience, also has increased over the past five years in Oklahoma public schools.

The number of students studying at Oklahoma's colleges and universities to become teachers fell by 80% from 2010 to 2020, more than any other state, according to a report from the Center for Education Progress. The national average was a 34% decline, the report found.

Lawmakers have pursued some incentives to attract and retain educators.

The Legislature passed a measure from Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, to offer $5,500 college scholarships to future teachers who agree to work in Oklahoma public schools for five years.

“They have my greatest respect for the job they do, and we have to mend some differences that have been caused by the recent election cycle,” said McBride, chairperson of the House budget committee on education. “I think they’ve been under attack, and it’s time to stop.”

Pugh's scholarship plan, though similar, would require recipients to work for four years in schools with high numbers of impoverished students.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma teacher salaries may increase in education funding bill