New Task Force Aims to Boost Louisiana Teacher Pay

A new task force is being created to figure out where education dollars are going and how more money can reach classrooms.

Landry announced that a new bipartisan task force is being created to review how billions of education dollars are being spent across Louisiana schools, with the goal of funding teacher pay raises.

According to the National Education Association, the average public school teacher salary in Louisiana is about $56,000 a year, ranking among the lowest in the nation.

Louisiana lawmakers say teachers have waited long enough for permanent pay raises. Right now, many teachers receive temporary stipends.

“The era of patchwork stipends and year to year uncertainty is over,” Landry said.

Now, the governor and Senate President Cameron Henry want to change the public school funding formula, also known as the Minimum Foundation Program, or MFP. As of right now, teacher pay isn’t built into that formula.

“That’s the smartest thing to do. That’s traditionally how we’ve had our pay raises funded. That’s the better option,” said Jordan Thomas, president of United Red River.

Teacher groups like United Red River support the MFP change but not without warnings.

“The current formula is $6.2 billion. That’s with a B,” Henry said.

“Their charge is to design a formula that is durable, transparent and sustainable,” Landry said.

A recent amendment that would have locked in permanent teacher pay raises was voted down, and that still stings for educators.

“Teachers and school employees literally gave up permanent moneys to support students and their public schools. That’s a really important part of the argument,” Thomas said.

Still, Thomas said a permanent raise would be a game changer after years of stipends that don’t count toward retirement.

“We haven’t had a permanent pay raise in the past three years. You can’t plan around stipends. We want something permanent so we know we can count on it every year,” Thomas said.

The task force will include lawmakers, education leaders and school officials. The governor said the task force has until Dec. 31 to finish its work and recommendations. Right now, lawmakers are working to find recurring money in the budget to continue teacher stipends while the long term funding plan is developed.