Sen. Pierce introduces bill to raise Maine’s minimum teacher salary

AUGUSTA ­­— On Thursday, Sen. Teresa S. Pierce, D-Falmouth, introduced LD 1064, “An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary,” before the Legislature’s Education and Cultural Affairs Committee.

“Maine and the nation are facing a critical shortage in teachers, and specifically in Maine, we have an unprecedented number of teachers leaving the profession,” said Sen. Pierce. “Current college-age and high school students are making decisions right now about what their careers might be. Enrollment numbers in programs that lead to teacher certification are down 5.6% in Fall 2022.”

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 this month 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.

Maya Koerber-Marx, a sophomore at Brunswick High School, testified in support of LD 1064.

“Why should the people who hold such an important role in shaping the lives of young people that are going to hold powerful positions not be paid as such?” asked Koerber-Marx. “I would not be the person I am today and I would not be standing here without all of my Maine teachers. Without teachers, our society would quite literally not be able to function, yet, they are paid so unfairly.”

Lauren Stark, a Policy Engagement Fellow for the Scholars Strategy Network, also testified in support of LD 1064.

“Educators play a fundamental role in our society. They create safe spaces for children and teens to learn and grow, nurturing the unique strengths that every student brings to the classroom,” said Stark. “Instead of lowering the bar, we should follow the research and improve pay and working conditions for educators. LD 1064 would be a significant step toward these goals, and we should consider similar measures to improve the pay of other vital education workers, including educational technicians.”

LD 1064 faces further action in committee.