The state teachers union said Wednesday with the the state anticpating a $612 million budget increase for next year, lawmakers can implement the second year of a three-year funding plan.
Under the "Together We're Stronger" plan, OEA is calling for $150 million into the funding formula, a $3,000 teacher pay raise, a $2,500 raise for support professionals and an 8 percent cost-of-living adjustment for retired educators.
"Gov. Stitt has said that he wants Oklahoma’s education system to be a top 10 in the country, and we are ready to help him," said OEA President Alicia Priest.
The entire three-year plan is to raise teacher pay by $10,000, increase salaries for education support professionals by $5,000, add $200 million for school operations, and give retired educators a cost-of-living-adjustment and state employees raises.
Lawmakers passed raises averaging $6,100 for teachers, $1,250 raises for support professionals and $50 million in additional classroom funding. Retirees received a $200 stipend, and state employees got raises.
OEA estimated all pieces of the second year of the plan will cost roughly $400 million. Priest said between new and re-elected lawmakers, the education caucus has nearly tripled in membership.
"So, what we’re going to do is take them at their word, and we’re going to work with them to make sure that it happens," Priest said.
