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Congress·In Committee·12 months ago

Congress Proposes $60,000 Minimum Salary for Teachers to Combat National Shortages

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impact Analysis

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Key Points

  • Congress is considering a bill to give states four-year grants to help raise the minimum salary for all full-time public school teachers to at least $60,000 a year. This minimum pay would increase every year to keep up with the rising cost of living.
  • To get the money, states must prove they have a plan to keep paying these higher salaries after the federal grants end. They are also prohibited from cutting their own current education spending or reducing teacher loan forgiveness programs just because they received this federal help.
  • The program would prioritize schools that need the most support, specifically targeting rural schools and those serving high numbers of low-income students. At least 85% of the grant money must go directly to local school districts to pay teachers.
  • The bill also funds a national campaign to encourage more students to become teachers and to make the teaching workforce more diverse. This is intended to fix teacher shortages that have forced some schools to cancel classes or use unqualified staff.
  • The plan aims to close the 'wage penalty' where teachers often earn about 23% less than other workers with college degrees. By offering more competitive pay, the bill seeks to make teaching a more sustainable career for people who currently struggle to pay their bills.
EducationLabor Employment

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Mar 10, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Mar 10, 2025

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles
EdSurge·about 3 years ago

Could the U.S. Soon See a Federal Minimum Salary for Teachers?

Rep. Frederica Wilson introduced the American Teacher Act to establish a $60,000 federal minimum salary for public school teachers. The bill uses a four-year grant program to incentivize states, requiring them to maintain funding levels and adjust for inflation starting in 2025.

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Nasdaq·about 3 years ago

New Bill Would Guarantee Teachers a $60,000 Salary

The American Teacher Act proposes a $60,000 minimum wage for full-time K-12 teachers, funded by four-year federal grants. States must reapply every four years and the bill includes an inflation adjustment provision to ensure pay keeps pace with the cost of living.

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CompXL·almost 3 years ago

Congress Prepared to Debate Raising Teachers' Salaries To $60K

Lawmakers are debating the American Teacher Act, which would use Department of Education grants to raise teacher pay. The bill faces questions from some Republicans regarding federal overreach into state-level education funding and school board responsibilities.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

American Teacher Act

Bill NumberHR 2021
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(96)
D: 95R: 1

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.