Proposed plan looks to raise base salary for Delaware educators

DELAWARE – “Teaching is so rewarding that if we pay teachers well, they will stay,” Delaware Senator Laura Sturgeon said.

To do that, the Delaware State Education Association is on a mission to raise compensation with a proposed pay schedule including a $60,000 base salary for educators.

“And so, the hope is that folks will see that and will make those decisions to stay in the classrooms and continue to teach Delaware students,” Delaware State Education Assocation Director of Education Policy Jon Neubauer said.

In Delaware, 70% of an educator’s pay comes from the state’s share. The other 30% comes from the local share.

By year three of DSEA’s plan, teacher salaries would be raised from $30,000 to $42,000.”The larger percentage increases are actually going to take place on the front end. So really addressing that challenge we face with recruitment and trying to make the profession much more attractive,” Neubauer said.

“$42,000 is approximately 70% of $60,000. So, we’re hoping that by year 3 we can get everyone to that base salary of $42,000.”

Lawmakers say that’s only half the battle, as Delaware is already trailing behind other bordering states like Maryland who’ve raised their salary base for teachers. “If Delaware doesn’t do something similar, we are just going to see this shortage increase and we’re already facing a teacher shortage like we’ve never seen before,” Senator Sturgeon said.

“Shortages in all workforces I realized are a problem. In teaching the problem has some pretty serious consequences for our students.”

The plan now waits for review and recommendations by the Public Education Compensation Committee. That committee was formed by legislation passed earlier this year to review educators pay.

We’re told the big concern is the price tag, as it could cost that state more than $134 million by year 3 of its rollout.

Those we spoke with say it’s a challenge that committee can handle. “When you know you have all the right stakeholders around the table, as I think we do in this committee and they make a strong recommendation, then I think that the funding will follow,” Senator Sturgeon said.

DSEA’s plan only includes the state’s share of educator’s salaries, as the local shares are based on that specific schooling zone.

Teachers would also receive advancements in compensation as they earn higher degrees, similar to the current pay schedule.

DSEA’s proposed pay plan would also change the number of pay steps from the current 17 to 10, meaning teachers would reach their maximum pay after 10 years of employment.

The committee has until next fall to make final recommendations.