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Teachers

Senator Bernie Sanders Introduces Legislation to Address Teacher Pay Crisis

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), has introduced the Pay Teachers Act to address the teacher pay crisis in America. The legislation begins to address the unprecedented levels of stress, burnout, and low pay affecting public school teachers nationwide. At a time when school districts report serious staffing shortages, this bill ensures that all public school teachers earn a livable and competitive wage of at least $60,000 a year, increasing over the course of their career.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Pay Teachers Act aims to address the teacher pay crisis in America by providing a livable and competitive wage of at least $60,000 a year to public school teachers, increasing over the course of their career.
  • Approximately one-third of all public school teachers make less than $60,000 a year, including more than 90% of starting teachers.
  • Hundreds of thousands of teachers have to work two or three jobs during the school year to make ends meet.
  • The average weekly wage for public school teachers has decreased by 5% over the past 30 years, adjusted for inflation.
  • 44% of public school teachers quit the profession within five years, with the pandemic exacerbating staffing shortages, disproportionately affecting schools primarily serving students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.
  • Recent studies show that K-12 public school teachers were the most likely to report higher levels of anxiety, stress, and burnout during the pandemic.
  • The Pay Teachers Act would provide all teachers with at least $1,000 annually for classroom supply expenses and help schools create well-paid career ladders that allow teachers to advance without leaving the classroom.
  • The bill would also include Markey's Pay Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Act, raising pay for paraprofessionals and education support personnel to at least $45,000 a year or $30 an hour.
  • The Pay Teachers Act would significantly increase federal investments in teachers and public schools, including tripling Title I-A funding and funding for rural education programs, diversifying and expanding the teacher pipeline, and strengthening leadership and advancement opportunities for educators.

Statistics:

  • Nearly one in eight teaching jobs is vacant or filled by a teacher who is not fully certified.
  • Approximately one-third of all public school teachers make less than $60,000 a year.
  • Hundreds of thousands of teachers have to work two or three jobs during the school year to make ends meet.
  • The average weekly wage for public school teachers has decreased by 5% over the past 30 years, adjusted for inflation.
  • 44% of public school teachers quit the profession within five years.
  • Nearly 35% of paraprofessionals and school staff earn less than $25,000 a year.
  • The Republican reconciliation bill recently signed into law cuts over $300 billion in education funding for millions of students and educators throughout America.

Sources:

  • Sanders, B. (2023). NEWS: Sanders Introduces Legislation to Address America's Teacher Pay Crisis, Holds Town Hall with Public School Educators. Retrieved from https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-legislation-to-address-americas-teacher-pay-crisis-holds-town-hall-with-public-school-educators/
  • Sanders, B. (2023). Pay Teachers Act. Retrieved from https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-introduces-legislation-to-address-americas-teacher-pay-crisis-holds-town-hall-with-public-school-educators/
  • American Federation of Teachers. (2023). Support the Pay Teachers Act. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/issues/pay-teachers-act
  • National Education Association. (2023). Pay Teachers Act. Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/issues-pay-teachers-act

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