The Mississippi House on Friday introduced a new bill to boost teacher pay, following weeks of stalled negotiations with the Senate. The measure, which passed unanimously, includes a $5,000 pay hike for all teachers, with an additional $3,000 for special education teachers. Assistant teachers would receive a $3,000 increase, school attendance officers $5,000, and occupational therapists and licensed counselors $6,000.
House Education Chairman Rob Roberson, a Republican from Starkville, said the bill is intended to give the Senate “one more bite at the apple.” The legislation also proposes capping superintendents’ salaries, addressing the pay gap during winter holidays, allowing retirees to return to work, and establishing programs for districts rated D or F. The raises would cost the state about $280 million annually and increase the per-student funding from $6,961 to $7,482, according to Roberson.
House Speaker Jason White emphasized that educators have spoken and that the House has listened. The bill now moves back to the Senate, where lawmakers will decide whether to accept, negotiate further, or reject the proposal. Education issues have been a priority during the legislative session, but the chambers have struggled to cooperate. Most education bills, including the House’s $5,000 raise and the Senate’s $2,000 proposal, died earlier this week at the committee deadline.
Relations between chambers have deteriorated, especially after the Senate rejected House bills on school choice and other education policies. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann criticized the House’s approach, advocating for a separate appropriation for teacher pay raises, which he called a short-term solution. White dismissed Hosemann’s stance, joking that Hosemann’s correspondence was “love letters” amid ongoing political tension.
Teachers and advocates expressed frustration over the deadlock, noting that Mississippi teachers earn the lowest salaries in the nation, with an average of $53,704. The state faces nearly 4,000 teaching vacancies, and many educators have taken second jobs to make ends meet. The last significant pay raise occurred in 2022 but was quickly overshadowed by inflation and rising costs, leading teachers to feel increasingly unsupported. As negotiations continue, teachers remain hopeful for a resolution, but frustration persists among lawmakers and educators alike.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
