Public school teachers are in line for a $1,000 per year pay raise, and school districts will be allocated $39 million more, with the Louisiana House's overwhelming approval of the school financing plan.
The vote is an election year win for Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who made the increase in teacher pay and school funding the centerpiece of his legislative priorities this year.
"Today’s an exciting day: the first pay raise our teachers and support staff have had in many years has passed the Legislature," the governor announced in a released statement. "Only one hurdle for this raise remains in the Legislature and that’s approval of the budget bill that supports this raise and the increase to the MFP per pupil amount."
The vote ends a stalemate between the governor's office and House Republicans. House GOP leaders had balked at the increase in school funding, but supported the governor's call for a teacher pay raise.
The legislation raises overall public school spending by $140 million for the 2019-2020 school year. It also adds $500 to the pay for non-teacher school support workers.
"As we enter the final days of the legislative session, we have a chance to invest in education at every level, from early childhood all the way through higher education," the governor said. "We’re heading in the right direction and I appreciate all of the members of the Legislature who joined the fight for our teachers and our students."
The raise would be the first for public school teachers in a number of years, but the increase does not restore Louisiana teacher pay to the Southern regional average, which has long been the goal for many lawmakers and teachers' unions.