Booker Introduces Legislation to Increase Teacher Compensation

Statement

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would put more money back in the pockets of educators and help diversify the teaching workforce. The compensation of educators in 30 states across the country is below a family living wage and after adjusting for cost of living, teacher salaries declined in New Jersey and 38 other states from 2010 to 2016. Future teachers are heavily influenced by teacher pay when considering whether to become teachers or not, making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain effective, diverse candidates. This legislation would make educators eligible for at least $1,000 tax credits and as much as $11,500.

Through refundable tax credits, the Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act will help boost the compensation of early childhood, elementary, and secondary school teachers. Depending on the level of poverty in their school, public school teachers would be eligible for a tax credit up to $10,000. The bill would also double the educator tax credit, which teachers can use to offset the cost of school supplies.

"America's teachers are constantly being asked to do more and more without any significant increase in their compensation, and often at their own expense," Booker said. "Educators are the unsung heroes of our society, but they cannot feed their families or pay their bills with heroism--they need and deserve our support. This legislation would allow us to use the federal tax code to put more resources back in teachers' pockets and help attract diverse candidates to the noble profession."

Diversifying the teaching workforce and increasing teacher compensation are top priorities for Booker. Earlier this Congress, he introduced the STRIVE Act, which would overhaul the student loan forgiveness program by providing incremental loan forgiveness each year to public school teachers in low-income schools.

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