Libby bill would increase number of high-quality teachers in high-need schools

Legislation from Sen. Nate Libby, D-Lewiston, to increase the number of high-quality teachers in high-need school districts was the subject of a public hearing before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

“There are many reasons that students in schools with high rates of food insecurity may struggle in school, one them being that their school district can’t afford to pay teacher salaries that are competitive with the wealthier districts nearby,” said Sen. Libby. “An extra $6,000 a year will help us keep the high-quality teachers that we desperately need in the schools where students need their skills and experience the most.”

Under LD 1549, “An Act To Increase the Supplement for Certain National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Certified Teachers in Maine,” teachers who have attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards will have their state funded stipend increase from the current $3,000 to $9,000 per year if they’re teaching in a district where more than 50 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced meals.

National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that is earned through a rigorous certification process. It goes beyond state licensure and sets national standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.

“More than a decade of research from across the country establishes that students taught by NBCTs learn more than students taught by other teachers,” said Kathy Henrickson, a first grade teacher at Dike-Newell School in Bath who is National Board Certified. “Estimates of the increase in learning are on the order of an additional one to two months of instruction and the positive impact is even greater for high-need students.”

Other National Board Certified educators, the Maine Education Association and Educate Maine all spoke in favor of LD 1549 and the impact it could have on getting high-quality educators to teach in – and stay at – districts where they’re needed most.

“It’s not surprising that Lewiston’s challenges make it a less desirable prospect for teachers seeking employment and staying in our classrooms,” said National Board Certified Teacher Sue Williams, the Director of Instructional Support and Educator Effectiveness in Lewiston Public Schools. “Even with an embedded salary increase and $3,000 state supplement, our teacher pay continues to fall short of the non-NBCT salaries of many other districts with more resources and far less challenging working conditions.”

The Education and Cultural Affairs Committee will take an initial vote on LD 1549 in the coming weeks.