JACKSON, Miss. — A pay raise for teachers is looking more promising this legislative session.
Wednesday afternoon state senators unanimously approved a plan to raise their pay by $2,500 over the next two years and after getting that amount, teachers could earn merit raises.
“This plan establishes the first true merit pay plan in Mississippi while making teacher starting pay competitive with surrounding states,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a written statement to News Mississippi. “The overwhelming support for this plan shows it addresses the concerns many educators had about pay discussions at the Capitol. I hope it can become law quickly, so teachers can see results by the start of the budget year in July.”
The bill now heads to the House, where earlier this session it passed its’ own teacher pay plan that would increase salaries by $4,250 over four years. The House can either accept the Senate’s plan, or ask to negotiate any differences between the bills through a conference committee.
