DE public school educators to see a major pay increase come April

DELAWARE – Tuesday, Governor John Carney made a major announcement for public school educators.

With Fiscal Year 2024, Delaware public school educators will see a 3% salary increase. Teachers who work with students face-to-face will get a 9% increase. Fiscal year 2024 starts on April 1st, 2023.

Competition Heats Up

Across the nation, teacher compensation has been an increasingly hot topic. In Delaware, it’s no different, say education officials.

“What that’s created is a competition for teachers that are available. It’s competition that get’s been getting incredibly intense, and states around us are raising their salaries to be more competitive,” said Gov. Carney. “We will not be outcompeted.”

Dr. Mark Holodick, Delaware’s Secretary of Education, is also the Chair of the Public Education Compensation Committee. He says not only are educators hard to find; they’re also leaving the profession earlier than they did in the past.

“We need to be really thoughtful and incredibly creative. They’ve pushed us, both directly and indirectly, on this committee to think thoroughly and thoughtfully about the recommendations that we’re charged to make to the Governor in November of 2023,” said Dr. Holodick. “I can’t help but think this signals to educators that they are incredibly valued here in Delaware, and that this Administration, working with the General Assembly, wants to do something to positively impact the challenges that we’re facing this year.”

Supporting Staff and Students

Senator Laura Sturgeon, a former teacher, says inadequate pay impacts more than just teachers’ wallets.

“Your ability to make that difference in the lives of your students is seriously impaired when your school is short staffed, creating ballooning classroom sizes, and possible case loads, diminished wraparound supports,” said Sen. Sturgeon. “Classroom teachers are content experts, skilled in delivering instruction, in an engaging and comprehensible manner, breaking down complex concepts into smaller parts, and doing so with patience, encouragement, and care.”

Teachers’ support and instruction are only bolstered when they have the right resources to back them up, says Representative Kim Williams. She says she’s personally experienced this, as a former Red Clay School Board member, and current member of the House Education Committee.

“Educating our children is one of the most important jobs one could ever hold, and we should pay educators a salary showing that we believe it is the most important job,” said Rep. Williams. “I have seen how we have talked about the need for increased education compensation countless times. If we want to recruit and retain quality educators, we need to provide them with a respectable salary at the beginning of their career.”

Increasing Opportunity Funding

Delaware’s public schools will also see an additional $50 million in opportunity funding.

The extra money provides classroom support to students from underprivileged backgrounds. “Mental health supporters, reading and math specialists; whatever those individual schools and districts determine they need,” said Gov. Carney.

Rep. Williams says the help that kind of funding can bring, has already been proven. “I have heard from so many, and seen first hand, how these programs and funding impact our students and educators, keeping them in the state,” she said.

Looking Ahead

However, this is only the beginning of improving compensation and benefits, say education officials.

Sen. Sturgeon says teachers still need adequate daily duty free planning time, appropriate class sizes, and case loads for special education. She also hopes to see more natural proportions in classes that have both students with disabilities, and those who do not. The Senator says those tools are essential for teaching, which can have lasting impacts on students.

“Teaching is at once the most demanding and rewarding of callings. A child’s interactions with their teachers can shape them for the rest of their lives,” said Sen. Sturgeon. “Educators’ work conditions are also students’ work conditions.”

Additionally, Delaware State Education President Stephanie Ingram says personnel who are not teachers should not be left behind, either. That includes bus drivers, food service workers, secretaries, custodians, and paraprofessionals.

“We stand ready to continue working with our Governor, and all of our legislators, to achieve respectful and professional salaries for all educational employees,” said Ingram. “There is much more work to be done to make and to keep our educators’ salaries competitive. We continue to be in those kind of conversations to determine our next steps.”