Governor Sarah Huckabee proposes to raise teacher salaries in Arkansas. They plan to raise the minimum starting salary to $50,000. This increases the starting salary by $14,000. Arkansas offers some of the lowest pay for teachers in the country. Arkansas would move from the 48th state in teacher pay rate to the 5th state.

This is significant to many teachers in the school district. Some have to work two or more jobs to support their family and have to put up with misbehaving students. With the salary raise, children will be able to support themselves and their family in many ways. This raise doesn’t just apply to teachers though. This raise applies to bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitorial staff, etc.

The LEARNS act will cost $350 million for the $10,000 raises. Half of the budget will come from new spending. The other half is already in the education system. Democrats have also proposed a bill that raises school staff pay to $15 an hour.

Over the summer of 2022, at the special session, this issue regarding teacher pay was not addressed by legislators. An educator in Arkansas named Gwen Faulkenberry had advocated for teachers and staff in the district. It’s safe to say that most people are happy that teachers in the state of Arkansas are finally getting recognition for their hard work.