The $39 million increase in districts' flexible block grant money had previously been blocked by House Republicans who had previously blocked the $39 million increase in districts' flexible block grant money. But the Senate, Gov. John Bel Edwards and the state education board are backing the spending boost.
Surrounding the election-year pressure from school leaders and their own colleagues, the House Appropriations Committee agreed Sunday to advance the proposal to the full House as the legislative session reaches its final days. There were no objections within the committee.
Governor Edwards, praised the move, saying on Twitter: "We're so close to giving our teachers & support staff much deserved, long overdue raises and giving our school systems a $39 million boost for classroom costs."
The legislative session must end Thursday.
The formula would raise spending on public schools by $140 million in the financial year that begins July 1. Teachers and other certificated personnel would get a $1,000 pay raise, support workers salaries would grow by $500 and districts would get the extra $39 million because the per-student allocation would grow from $3,961 to $4,015.
House Republicans backed the teacher raises, but objected to the block grant increases, questioning if Louisiana could afford the spending. The House budget version, crafted by the chamber's GOP leaders contained a $1,200 teacher pay raise, a $600 support worker raise, but no block grant boost.
The Senate advanced a budget that matched the school formula, seeking to force the House GOP to give in and go along with it.