Education; the minimum base salary for certificated professional personnel with bachelor's degrees; revise
Impact
The implementation of SB207 is expected to have significant implications for local educational systems. Local units of administration would be mandated to comply with the new salary schedule, which could lead to increased education costs and budget adjustments. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of periodic salary studies every five years, which will assess whether adjustments to the salary schedule are necessary, thereby ensuring that teacher compensation remains relevant and competitive in a changing job market.
Summary
Senate Bill 207 aims to amend the conditions of employment for professionals in elementary and secondary education by revising the minimum base salary for certificated personnel with bachelor's degrees and no more than two years of experience. The bill requires the State Board of Education to establish a minimum salary schedule that reflects the starting salaries for recent graduates in comparable fields, setting the baseline for new teachers at a minimum of $49,092 annualized from a ten-month basis, effective July 1, 2023. This revision intends to make Georgia's teaching salaries more competitive with other professions requiring similar qualifications.
Contention
Discussions surrounding SB207 have revealed some points of contention, particularly concerning how it addresses the issue of performance evaluation in determining salary placement. Under the proposed legislation, teachers who have received unsatisfactory performance evaluations would not receive credit for their years of experience, a provision which some stakeholders argue could disproportionately affect newer teachers as they navigate the challenges of their early careers. Furthermore, the required public hearings for any potential decreases in local salary supplements have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of such decisions, indicating that while the bill aims to establish a fair minimum salary framework, its execution may lead to complex local negotiations.
Teacher pay; repealing the minimum salary schedule for certified school personnel; adding provisions to salary schedules adopted by boards of education. Effective date. Emergency.