OKLAHOMA CITY–Legislation to phase in a $6,000 raise for Oklahoma teachers over three years has been approved by a state House committee although lawmakers don’t know how to pay for it.
The House Appropriations and Budget Committee voted 26-2 Monday to send the measure to the House floor for a vote.
The bill by Republican Rep. Michael Rogers of Broken Arrow calls for a $1,000 pay raise next year, $2,000 the following year and $3,000 in the third year.
Republican legislative leaders have expressed support for a teacher pay raise but have not identified a funding source. A $1,000 raise would cost about $53 million a year.
Oklahoma’s average teacher salary of $44,921 is last in the seven-state region and has not been raised since 2008.