Sen. Walker: Supporting Hoosier Teachers
| Our teachers work hard to provide a quality education that prepares the next generation of Hoosiers for success. That’s why I supported a bill to raise the statewide starting salary for teachers and require schools to spend more of their state funding on teachers. While teachers’ salaries are bargained locally by school boards and teachers’ unions, the General Assembly supports our state’s educators by placing minimum guidelines on teacher pay. Senate Enrolled Act 146 raises the starting salary for teachers to $45,000, an increase from the $40,000 minimum salary previously in place. Schools will also increase the share of state tuition support for teachers’ compensation from 62% to 65%. This provision will increase the amount schools spend on teacher compensation by over $280 million. This law also establishes a Teacher Recruitment Program, administered by the Indiana Department of Education, to provide grants to areas with critical shortages to assist in training and recruiting teachers. Teachers play a key role in the success of Indiana’s education system. As your state senator, I am committed to continuing to support our teachers and help ensure Indiana encourages more educators to bring their talents to our state. |