Teachers would receive a $1,500 pay raise under a budget set to be proposed by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards. The 148 million dollar investment in the reoccurring expense also features a $750 support staff pay raise.
Edwards said it’s part of his ongoing commitment to getting Louisiana teachers closer to the southern regional average. He also hoped the Legislature would approve a more generous raise than the one he proposed if the money can be found.
I think we have a once in a generation, maybe once in a life time opportunity, to move our state forward,” said Edwards discussing his education and infrastructure heavy proposal that’s buoyed by a substantial state surplus.
The budget proposal also includes 31.7 million for higher ed faculty pay raises. 97.2 million for higher education, and five million for title nine. It also includes 43 million for early childhood education.
Edwards will present the budget in full to the Legislature next week. It remains to be seen whether the pay raise will survive the Legislative gauntlet to come in March.
