Committee unanimously supports Sen. Pierce bill to increase teacher pay

AUGUSTA ­­— On Wednesday, LD 1064, “An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary,” sponsored by Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, earned unanimous, bipartisan support before the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee. 

“The overwhelming bipartisan support of this bill underscores the need to raise teacher pay,” said Sen. Pierce. “We have an unprecedented number of teachers leaving the profession. By increasing the minimum pay, we can bolster our efforts to recruit and retain quality educators who will continue making a positive impact in student’s lives every day. I’m grateful the committee recognized this and voted accordingly.” 

LD 1064 would allow Maine’s public schools to tackle the current shortage of teachers by assisting in the effort to recruit and retain quality educators. This bill would raise the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 incrementally over the next four years, through the 2027-28 fiscal year.

According to a report released in March by the consultancy firm McKinsey, one-third of American K-12 educators are contemplating leaving their jobs, citing compensation as the No. 1 reason. At $37,580 a year, the average starting teacher salary in Maine is the lowest in New England and ninth-lowest in the nation. Connecticut’s legislature is currently contemplating a bill that would raise their teacher starting salary from $47,000 to $60,000.

LD 1064 faces votes in the Senate and House.