Even though some Republicans voted against it, the state’s education budget plans are moving forward.
Some Republican lawmakers in the state say that the budget plan doesn’t include raises for charter school teachers.
Senator Robin Titus (R – District 17) says, “I just cannot accept the fact that we are not giving the charter school teachers who are public employees the raises that I feel they deserve, as all teachers do.”
The bill includes the continuation of $250 million for educator and staff pay raises approved during the last legislative session, as well as per-pupil funding for public schools and public charters.
Governor Joe Lombardo has voiced his support for equal pay for charter school teachers, as well.
Democrats say this is a topic that lawmakers are still discussing.
Speaker Steve Yeager (D – District 9) elaborated, “I think it’s been made abundantly clear by the members of this committee that we are still working on the charter school teacher pay increase, and I think it was made abundantly—I don’t know if it was yesterday or the day before—that we weren’t in a position to approve that at the moment.”
Some state Republicans did vote with Democrats today to move the education budget forward.