Maine Senate gives unanimous initial approval to Sen. Pierce bill to increase teacher pay

AUGUSTA – On Wednesday, the Maine Senate gave unanimous initial approval to a bill from Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth. As amended, LD 1064, “An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary,” would increase the minimum teacher salary through a tiered system over the next four years. 

“The bipartisan support of this bill, in committee and on the floor, highlights the need to raise teacher pay,” said Sen. Pierce. “With the looming retirement cliff and the need to recruit and retain quality educators within our own state, this legislation has never been more important. I’m grateful my colleagues acted accordingly, and I look forward to this bill becoming law.”

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 consulting firm McKinsey, one-third of American K-12 educators are contemplating leaving their jobs, citing compensation as the top reason. At $37,580 a year, the average starting teacher salary in Maine is the lowest in New England and the ninth-lowest in the nation. Connecticut’s state legislature is currently contemplating a bill that would raise their teacher starting salary from $47,000 to $60,000.

The bill faces further votes in the Senate and House.