2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 57
BY SENATORS BISHOP, BARROW, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB,
GATTI, LAFLEUR, MARTINY, MORRELL, TARVER AND
THOMPSON AND REPRESENTATI VE JIMMY HARRIS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to work with
the governor and the legislature to develop a ten-year plan to increase teacher
salaries to the level where Louisiana's average teacher salary is the highest in the
nation.
WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana provides that "the goal of the public
educational system is to provide learning environments and experiences, at all stages of
human development, that are … designed to promote excellence in order that every
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential"; and
WHEREAS, attracting and retaining quality teachers in all of Louisiana's classrooms
is one of the most important aspects in assuring that an excellent educational environment
is provided; and
WHEREAS, placing a highly qualified, highly engaged, appropriately certified
teacher in every classroom will become more difficult if teacher pay in Louisiana continues
to lag behind the pay of other professions in this state and teacher salaries in other states; and
WHEREAS, the latest data from the National Education Association (NEA) shows
that the average Louisiana teacher salary in 2017 was $50,000, which was $9,660 below the
average salary of teachers in the United States; and
WHEREAS, providing competitive salaries is absolutely necessary in order to
encourage the best and brightest young people to enter the teaching profession, to teach in
the public schools, and provide an incentive for excellent teachers to make teaching a
lifelong career; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature is appreciative of the dedication of
Louisiana's classroom teachers and their tireless work in providing a high quality educational
environment to each student in our state; and
Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 57 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Legislature supports providing public school teachers
competitive pay and benefits.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to work with the
governor and the legislature to develop a ten-year plan to increase teacher salaries to the
level where Louisiana's average teacher salary is the highest in the nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education shall submit a written report on the plan to the Senate Committee on Education
and the House Committee on Education at least thirty days prior to the beginning of the 2020
Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the governor.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 2 of 2