National ranking shows despite hike, Virginia teachers’ pay is stagnant compared to other states

From last year to now Virginia raised trainer pay by an average of Still the commonwealth s average pay rate for educators remains stagnant compared to other states according to the latest salary record published by the National Instruction Association The commonwealth dropped by one spot to th paying teachers an average of an increase from a year ago Virginia s average guide pay is below the national average of the NEA review states Guidance leaders and lawmakers in the commonwealth declared inflation and investments are specific of the factors contributing to mixed results in the national salary assessment Clearly the account shows that we have made good improvement in modern years and we have a long way to go announced House Instruction Committee Chair Sam Rasoul D-Roanoke Rasoul admitted that the commonwealth is thousands of dollars below the national trainer pay average but when we started this journey a limited years ago we were in the bottom third of states and so we re approaching where we need to be The Virginia Guidance Association VEA representing the largest group of K- teachers in the commonwealth reported that while the national statistics shows gains have been made in Virginia pre-kindergarten to higher guidance teachers are still not making enough to help themselves after being adjusted for inflation According to VEA the average community school trainer salary increased by from the previous year but when adjusted for inflation teachers made only more While it might look like teachers are getting advocacy they are certainly losing money which has a direct impact on trainee learning VEA reported While recognizing latest gains VEA president Carol Bauer disclosed Virginia s teachers are still losing economic ground while schools continue weathering the state s coaching staffing shortages True historic financing means decisively closing salary gaps adequately funding schools and ensuring every classroom has a qualified professor Virginia must commit to real sustained investments to attract and retain educators rather than relying on incremental gains that barely keep pace with inflation Bauer disclosed What can Virginia do now Virginia has an opportunity to boost educator pay even more after the General Assembly recommended changes to the state budget This week Gov Glenn Youngkin will decide whether to encouragement lawmakers budget proposal to provide bonuses to teachers and lift a cap on state funding for non-instructional school staff positions This would give school divisions greater flexibility to hire the staff they need without being restricted by outdated student-to-staff ratios In during the Great Recession lawmakers initiated the cap to reduce state spending on non-instructional school staff positions including central office and administrative technical clerical maintenance and instructional promotion positions The governor s office did not without delay respond to comment on the record However in the governor s budget recommendations in March Youngkin wrote that Virginia has raised mentor pay by over the last three years The budget amendments now being considered by the governor contain million more for constituents guidance including million to raise the cap Last year state lawmakers formed a joint committee to work on overhauling the Standards of Quality SOQ the state s funding formula determining the financial demands of school divisions after a state review group exposed local governments have been shouldering a disproportionate share of K- instruction costs compared to the state s contributions Lawmakers arranged for the state and localities to pay an even split of contributions in but they changed it in urging localities to start paying for K- fringe benefits According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission the state s share was established at while localities paid What s next House Training Committee Vice Chair Shelly Simonds D-Newport News carried the advocacy cap bill and budget language to help non-instructional positions As a former educator and school board member Simonds revealed a core issue her ordinance will address is the administration s prioritized focus on overhauling testing and accountability measures part of the administration s efforts to combat learning loss and raise pupil testing scores instead of recruiting and maintaining teachers Simonds announced a few solutions to make teaching the best job in Virginia could involve creating competitive pay treating educators as professionals in the school buildings and offering maternity leave professional growth and planning periods to collaborate with colleagues The only thing that has been really proven to improve tuition is highly qualified teachers Simonds mentioned Having a highly qualified guide in every classroom is the way we move the needle on test scores for our children GET THE MORNING HEADLINES SUBSCRIBE figure tipContainer socContainer subscribeShortcodeContainer donateContainer 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