“Every teacher is going to be funded,” state Education Secretary Jacob Oliva, shown at the March 8 signing ceremony for the LEARNS act, said last week.
(Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Stephen Swofford)
Although the LEARNS Act will increase public school teachers' minimum salaries to at least $50,000 and give $2,000 raises, districts must decide for themselves to what degree they can reward educators' experience and education, state officials and lawmakers said.
However, education leaders say they won't know the full extent to which they can afford to compensate educators and other critical staff until the Legislature and governor approve a bill indicating how much funding will be provided by the state.
As a result, many district officials who are preparing staff contracts for the 2023-2024 school year say they are worried about employee retention despite their enthusiasm for broad portions of the education overhaul.
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