Arkansas Leads the Nation: Highest Starting Teacher Salaries Adjusted for Cost of Living
Arkansas is stated to have the highest starting teacher compensation in the United States when adjusted for cost of living. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders spearheaded the implementation of the LEARNS Act, which resulted in a major revenue gain.
An Increase in Teacher Salaries
Last year, Governor Sanders signed the LEARNS Act into law, which increased teachers’ starting salaries from $36,000 to $50,000 while also ensuring a $2,000 rise for all instructors. This revision represents a significant movement from Arkansas’ previous position of 48th in the nation for starting teacher compensation. Before the passage of the LEARNS Act, it was uncommon for instructors in many districts across the state to make more than $50,000 per year.
“Great education begins with great teachers,” declared Governor Sanders. She was proud of how the LEARNS Act drove Arkansas from near the bottom to the top of the national rankings in terms of starting teacher compensation, thereby improving the state’s capacity to attract and retain talented educators. “LEARNS was the largest investment in our public schools ever and, as this report shows, is already tackling our teacher shortage and making Arkansas a national education leader,” she said in a statement.
Influence on Education and Teacher Recruitment
According to Arkansas Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, the quality of education is strongly influenced by the caliber of the teachers. “Research shows that the number one indicator of student success is the teacher in the classroom,” he said. The significant investment provided by the LEARNS Act is viewed as critical in not only raising starting pay but also ensuring that classrooms are led by high-quality educators. This effort is intended to improve student learning outcomes and grow the teacher pipeline.
Additional Benefits of the LEARNS Act
The TNTP’s Moving Up study also highlighted other aspects of the LEARNS Act that contribute to its aim of improving teacher retention and recruitment in Arkansas. Among these are student loan payback alternatives for educators in areas with teacher shortages, scholarships for ambitious teachers, and the Merit Teacher Incentive Fund, which provides up to $10,000 in bonuses to high-performing instructors.
Furthermore, the Act promotes work-life balance and teacher support by offering up to 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, making Arkansas one of only four states in the US to provide such coverage. This is especially notable given that more than 70% of Arkansas’ instructors are female.
The entire information and analysis of these changes may be found in the TNTP report, which also looks at the LEARNS Act’s broader implications for Arkansas education.