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* IEA…
Today, the state legislature passed the $40,000 minimum teacher salary, ensuring no teacher in Illinois will be able to make less than that amount by 2025 and helping to strengthen the future of the profession.
Currently, the state school code sets the minimum salary for teachers in Illinois at $10,000 a year for those with a bachelor’s degree and $11,000 for those with a master’s degree. In addition, Illinois is in the midst of a teacher shortage and last year, more than 1,500 positions went unfilled and more than 2,000 went unfilled the year before.
Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Collinsville, is a former teacher and sponsored the bill in the House and Sen. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, who pushed the revamp of school funding in Illinois, sponsored the Senate version.
In both, the increase would be phased in over five years, giving districts time to plan financially for the change. Similar legislation passed last year but was vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“In our recently released State of Education in Illinois survey, we asked Illinoisans what words they most associated with teachers. The two most common words were underpaid and undervalued,” said Kathi Griffin, president of the Illinois Education Association.
“This legislation shows that lawmakers recognize this. They can see that salary is one of the main factors that prevents people from going into the profession. There is a teacher shortage and it has a detrimental impact on our children, our state’s most important asset. This will help districts across the state attract and retain the best and brightest and that’s what best for students.”
Manar, the sponsor of the bill, said it’s important that educators feel valued.
“Teachers don’t go into the profession for the money, but they have to be able to earn a living. We can’t on one hand say that education is a priority in the state and on the other hand not be willing to pay for it. Investing in educators is investing in education and it benefits students,” Manar said.
An analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data shows that fewer than 8,000 of the state’s 130,000 teachers make less than $40,000. Illinois could bring all of the teachers currently being paid less than $40,000 up to the $40,000 mark this year and only use 10 percent of the evidence-based funding formula dollars. However, the bill does not make that proposition, instead phasing it in over five years. And, the new evidence-based funding formula is designed to funnel money to the school districts with the most need, helping to ensure every district can meet its financial obligations.
* Background…
The bill would increase salaries gradually over a period of five years to reach a $40,000 minimum. As part of a phase-in period, the salary would increase to a $32,076 minimum in the 2020-21 school year, $34,576 in 2021-22 and $37,076 in 2022-23.
posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 2:20 pm
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The legislature shouldn’t be involved dictating the salaries of employees of units of local governments. This is horrible public policy. If there was ever a local issue for local control this is it. Disgusting.
Comment by Just Me Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 2:30 pm
And if you live in a district that will be impacted get ready for your property taxes to go up even more…
Comment by Captain Obvious Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 2:38 pm
I wish we could lower the threshold where the top Gaming Tax Rate kicks in from $200 million to $2 million and increase the tax rate from 50%. Gaming money was supposed to be for the kids education or so the propaganda went back in 1990. We need property tax relief and Casino license holders have a lot of cash.
Comment by Al Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 2:46 pm
So the state is going to pay for this right? I am sure Andy Manar has a d dictates revenue stream set aside for this. /s
Comment by JS Mill Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 3:12 pm
“We can’t on one hand say that education is a priority in the state and on the other hand not be willing to pay for it.”
What he meant to say was “YOU can’t on one hand say that education is a priority in the state and on the other hand not be willing to pay for it.” So we’re going to MAKE you pay for it. Because we’re good about helping like that.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 4:08 pm
…this is the same legislature that wants to freeze property taxes! Talking out both sides of their mouths, they are!
Comment by Taxedoutwest Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 4:25 pm
On one hand it is a total disrespect to the profession to expect someone to take on this job for such a ridiculous salary. On the other hand it’s an even worse disrespect to the profession to not let educators manage their own budgets school by school.
Comment by Ed Equity Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 4:27 pm
Next the Fire Fighters and the Police Officers unions are going to introduce bills mandating their salaries. After that it will AFSCME.
Comment by Just Me Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 4:39 pm
Agree with Just Me. People in some parts of this state are just more concerned about continuing to complain from their property tax high-horses than they are about the quality of their kids education. If saving $13.00 a year on their property tax bill is more important than ensuring their kid isn’t continually being taught by some 23-year old student teacher who doesn’t know what they’re doing and who will leave to go to a higher paying school district at the first opportunity, who is state government to say otherwise? Gas stations and fast food places will need employees too, you know
Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 4:43 pm
The local control bill. So why don’t the local downstate school districts pay the pensions of their teachers and admin? Chicago does thru property taxes…and they pay downstate pensions thru their state income tax.. so let downstairs do the same if you want local control
Comment by truthteller Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 5:55 pm
This is horrible public policy. No reason to negotiate and go through collective bargaining if the nanny state Democrats are just going to set wages. Just because they completed more tasks doesn’t mean they were good ones.
Comment by Tim Saturday, Jun 1, 19 @ 6:35 pm
So for the 20-21 school year at $32k that means there will be teachers in our public school who get a raise UP TO $15 per hour. I get the indignation about the state dictating compensation to local staff, but seriously, have some local districts demonstrated that they have this handled? Do they really expect to attract quality talent competing at a fast-food restaurant level? As a private business person my observation to vastly under-paying teachers is this is just not important to certain local municipalities. The private sector, also struggling to fill open positions, will gladly take up the qualified headcount.
Comment by SomeoneinWheaton Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 7:23 am
The average starting salary for teachers in Illinois is about $39,000. More than 60 percent of Illinois public school districts have a starting annual salary for teachers of less than $40,000. Chicago and most of the surrounding suburbs pay starting teachers more than the $39,000 average. In my opinion it is time that downstate teachers are paid a living wage.
Comment by Enviro Sunday, Jun 2, 19 @ 11:53 am
Enviro - The costs of living is far lower in downstate Illinois versus Chicago metro. Of course, the local downstate districts won’t pay for this. It will be up to the Chicago suburbs to fund this. AGAIN and AGAIN.
Comment by ChicagoSuburbs Tuesday, Jun 11, 19 @ 11:52 am