In the face of threatened teacher strikes and budget surpluses, over 20 governors this year have made recommendations to increase teachers’ salaries in their respective states, according to an analysis by Education Week of State of the State addresses. In various states across the South and West, such as Arizona, Idaho, and West Virginia, where low teacher pay has led to teacher shortages and political unrest, governors are urging legislators to allocate funds in proposed budgets for teacher salary raises. These raises range from a 2 percent increase in North Dakota to a 20 percent increase in Arizona. Additionally, some governors, like those in Arkansas and Maine, aim to raise the minimum pay for teachers in their states.
However, it is important to note that not all teachers are guaranteed a pay raise this fall, even if governors advocate for it. In certain states, such as Nevada and Pennsylvania, there are no statewide teacher pay scales, leaving it up to individual districts to allocate any additional funds towards teacher salaries.
