A bill that would increase Oklahoma teachers’ pay passed out of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee last week.

During his State-of-the-State Address, Gov. Kevin Stitt called on the Legislature to increase teacher pay by $1,200 this year, and House Republicans made it a priority to accomplish early in the session.

House Bill 1780, by House Speaker Charles McCall, would provide a $1,200 across the board pay raise for public school teachers. The pay raise would be in addition to the historic pay raise given to Oklahoma teachers during the 2018 legislative session.

“I have said many times that the pay raise last year was a good first step, but my goal is to get our teachers to number one in the region in pay,” said Speaker McCall, R-Atoka. “This bill helps us get closer to that goal. House Republicans have made a commitment to our teachers and we are going to follow through. Better pay not only shows our teachers that they are valued, but it also helps us recruit and attract new teachers to the profession and retain the experienced teachers we already have.”

Last year, the Legislature approve House Bill 1010XX, which provided an increase to the K-12 budget of nearly $500 million and funded pay raises ranging from a $5,000 pay raise for a first year teacher with a bachelor’s degree to an $8,400 pay raise for a teacher with 25 years of experience and a doctorate degree. The average pay raise last session was $6,100.

House Common Education Committee Chairwoman Rhonda Baker said the goal is to address pay early in session and then focus on getting more money into the classrooms.

“It is a two-step approach to ensuring our teachers are paid better and then getting them the resources they need to teach our children,” said Baker, R-Yukon. “Our students need additional dollars dedicated to the classroom for textbooks and better technology. House Republicans have several bills coming down the road to help us get that done this session.”

House Bill 1780 passed out of committee by a vote of 26-0 and now heads to the Oklahoma House floor for consideration by the full body.