Phoenix – Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey, has proposed a 20% pay increase for Arizona teachers by school year 2020. The plan includes a 10% raise for teachers by the start of the fall 2018 school year, a 5% increase in 2019 and another 5% pay raise in 2020. Ducey is asking for support from the public as the plan heads to the legislature.
In an email sent today, Ducey said, “Arizona teachers are some of the biggest difference-makers in the lives of children. They deserve to not only be respected for their hard work — but also rewarded. That’s why we have a plan to provide teachers in Arizona a 20% pay increase by school year 2020. The education community supports this plan because it also makes significant NEW investments in K-12 education — with flexible dollars for superintendents and principals to use for building improvements, new textbooks, technology or additional raises for support staff.”
The average teacher pay in Arizona is currently $48,372. According to the plan, it will increase to $52,725 by the new school year this fall. By the beginning of the 2020 school year, the average teacher pay will be $58,130.
But the plan still needs to be approved by the legislature. Governor Ducey is asking people to co-sign the plan to show support as it heads to the legislature.
If you agree that Arizona’s teachers deserve a 20% raise, co-sign the plan HERE.
The view the plan, click here.
Governor Ducey’s support of increased teacher pay is a reversal of his position a few weeks ago when he said that teachers aren’t going to get the 20 percent pay hike they are demanding – not now and not in the foreseeable future. His position seemed to change quickly after students and public education advocates around the state staged protests and rallies in support of a pay increase.