SLS 19RS-46 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 9
BY SENATOR BISHOP
TEACHERS. Requests the governor and the legislature to work together to provide funding
for teacher pay raises.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the governor and the legislature to work together to provide funding to
3 increase teacher salaries to the level where Louisiana's average teacher salary is
4 equal to or exceeds the average teacher salary for the southern region.
5 WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana provides that "the goal of the public
6 educational system is to provide learning environments and experiences, at all stages of
7 human development, that are . . . designed to promote excellence in order that every
8 individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential"; and
9 WHEREAS, attracting and retaining quality teachers in all of Louisiana's classrooms
10 is one of the most important aspects in assuring that an excellent educational environment
11 is provided; and
12 WHEREAS, placing a highly qualified, highly engaged, appropriately certified
13 teacher in every classroom will become more difficult to do if teacher pay in Louisiana
14 continues to lag behind the pay of other professions in this state and teacher salaries in other
15 states in this region; and
16 WHEREAS, the latest data from the National Education Association (NEA) shows
17 that the average Louisiana teacher salary in 2017 was $50,000, which was $1,242 below the
18 average teacher salary of the member states of the Southern Region Education Board; and
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SLS 19RS-46 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, providing competitive salaries is absolutely necessary in order to
2 encourage the best and brightest young people to enter the teaching profession and to teach
3 in the public schools, as well as provide an incentive for excellent teachers to make teaching
4 a lifelong career; and
5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Senate is appreciative of the dedication of Louisiana's
6 classroom teachers and their tireless work in providing a high quality educational
7 environment to each student in our state; and
8 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Senate supports providing public school teachers and
9 school support personnel competitive pay and benefits.
10 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
11 does hereby urge and request the governor to work with the legislature to provide funding
12 to increase teacher salaries to the level where Louisiana's average teacher salary is equal to
13 or exceeds the average teacher salary for the southern region.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
15 governor.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SR 9 Original 2019 Regular Session Bishop
Requests the governor and the legislature to work together to provide funding to increase
teacher salaries to the level where the average teacher salary in Louisiana is equal to or
exceeds the average teacher salary for the southern region.
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