Schools are struggling to fill all their teaching jobs for the fall. Teacher morale is low. And, this summer, about one-sixth of the nation’s teachers are working in non-school jobs. It’s no wonder there’s broad support for raising teacher pay. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been doing just that in the states. In Washington DC, the proposed “American Teacher Act” would mandate a minimum national salary of $60,000 for teachers.
But, at a time of staggering deficits and multiple priorities, funds are limited. Even ambitious proposals have usually delivered only modest boosts in pay. Moreover, decades of steady increases in school spending just haven’t translated into teacher paychecks.
