Increase

Arkansas Democrats file legislation for teacher pay raises, per pupil funding increase

KUAR | By Ronak Patel / Talk Business & Politics

Arkansas Democrats filed legislation Thursday (Jan. 26) to raise public school teacher salaries, non-teacher staff salaries, and per pupil foundation funding for the next year.

In the House, Democrats filed HB1268, the RAISE Act, to move funds from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Public School Fund Account to the Department of Education for pay raises for teachers, according to the bill.

According to a press release from the Democratic Party of Arkansas, the RAISE Act will cost $350 million for teacher pay. The legislation would raise the starting salary of teachers to $50,000, up from $36,000. There is also a $10,000 raise for every public school teacher in the state.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2023-01-27/arkansas-democrats-file-legislation-for-teacher-pay-raises-per-pupil-funding-increase

Josie Lenora/KUAR News

House Minority Leader Tippi McCullough and Senate Minority Leader Greg Leding host a post-inauguration press conference in early January 2023.