Union President Seeks Boost in Starting Pay for Arkansas Teachers

This week marks exactly one year since Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders announced the state ranks highest in the nation for starting teacher pay.

In March 2023, Governor Sanders enacted the LEARNS Act, increasing beginning teachers' salaries in the state from $36,000 annually to $50,000 annually. By April 2024, referencing a study conducted by the educational non-profit organization TNTP, the governor announced Arkansas currently boasts the highest beginning teacher salary in the country.Sanders maintains that exceptional education begins with outstanding educators.

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Arkansas is continuing to grapple with a scarcity of teachers, as fewer individuals are entering this field," noted April Reisma, the president of the Arkansas Education Association. "Addressing this issue should be our priority.

Reisma, who leads the union representing educators statewide, notes that the increased initial salary for teachers is indeed aiding in recruitment efforts.

"Retention might tell a different tale," Reisma mentioned.

Reisma highlights a significant worry moving ahead: providing sufficient raises for experienced teachers to keep them onboard. While acknowledging that certain school districts manage to grant such increments, she expresses disappointment at how few of these districts actually exist. Reisma points out that several areas within the state have set their educator compensation packages so that even seasoned instructors earn around $50,000 annually, applicable uniformly throughout each district regardless of tenure.

Given our predominantly rural nature, these states often lack the resources needed to implement such changes," Reisma explained. "I sympathize with the administrators who find themselves in a difficult situation. On one hand, they wish to honor their teachers and acknowledge those higher degrees.

On Wednesday evening, we contacted the Arkansas Department of Education. Although nobody could be interviewed at that time, a representative informed us that both the education secretary and the governor have frequently discussed the advantages of raising beginning teachers' salaries multiple times.

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