News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

TN Democrats Bemoan Changes To Teacher Salary Schedule

State lawmakers are speaking out against a proposal by the state Department of Education they believe would eventually hurt teacher salaries in Tennessee. Democratic leaders held a press conference yesterday to oppose the measure that seeks to make changes to the minimum teacher salary schedule. They note the proposal would reduce steps in salary increases from 21 to four and eliminate incentives for doctorate degrees and post-masters training. Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman is scheduled to present the proposal to the State Board of Education on Friday. He said in an email that it's against the law for any Tennessee school district to cut a teacher's salary, and that Republican Gov. Bill Haslam has added more than $130 million in state money for teacher salaries over the past three years.