It is past time to lift the minimum teacher salary in Maine. We are witnessing an exodus from the profession. Each year, over 1,400 teachers leave the field, while only 400+ graduate from Maine’s teacher preparation programs. The current minimum salary of $40,000 is not enough to attract and retain talented educators. It must be increased.
The MEA will aggressively advocate for LD 34, An Act to Increase the Minimum Teacher Salary sponsored by Senator Teresa Pierce. Senator Pierce understands we simply must raise teacher pay is essential to addressing the teacher shortages we face in our schools. This bill had strong bipartisan support last session, and we must continue to talk to legislators about why this bill is important to recruiting and retaining teachers in our schools.
You can email YOUR legislators and ask them to pass LD 34. It is past time to lift the minimum teacher pay in Maine.
