Senate Committee Adopts GOP Plan for $10,000 Pay Hike for Teachers

On Monday the Senate Education Committee adopted a Republican senator’s proposal to provide some Oklahoma public school teachers a pay increase of up to $10,000.

The amendment authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, would provide a $10,000 pay increase for teachers with a doctoral degree; a $5,000 pay increase for teachers with a master’s degree; and a $3,000 pay increase for teachers with a bachelor’s degree. The original proposal by Senate Democrats was for a flat $3,000 pay hike for all teachers.

“I felt the original proposal rewarded every teacher equally, regardless of their efforts to be a better teacher,” Jolley said. “By contrast, my amendment doesn’t follow the union’s equal treatment mentality. It actually rewards those who work hard to improve their abilities in the classroom.”