Assembly Bill 398 Aims to Raise Pay for Charter School Teachers

Charter school teachers working together to ensure equitable compensation for educators.

News Summary

Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager has introduced Assembly Bill 398 to increase pay for charter school teachers, aiming to address teacher vacancies and enhance compensation. The bill proposes $19.3 million in annual funding to support substantial raises and offers additional incentives for educators in high-need schools. Despite support from some lawmakers, opposition highlights the exclusion of critical positions like bus drivers from the funding. As negotiations continue, the bill emphasizes the need for transparency in charter school funding amid ongoing budget disputes.

Las Vegas, NV – Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager has introduced Assembly Bill 398, aimed at increasing pay for charter school teachers amid a budget dispute that has captured the attention of education officials and lawmakers alike. The bill seeks to enable public charter school teachers to receive significant raises in the forthcoming biennium, while also addressing the ongoing challenges related to teacher vacancies in the state.

The proposed legislation includes an amendment that would allocate approximately $19.3 million annually, funded through the state’s general fund and distributed by the Interim Finance Committee. This funding is part of a broader initiative following Senate Bill 231 from 2023, which successfully provided about 20% pay raises for educators across Nevada, leading to a notable reduction in teacher vacancy rates.

Furthermore, Yeager’s bill proposes additional financial incentives for educators in hard-to-fill roles at Title 1 schools and special education classes. Specifically, it suggests an extra $5,000 increase to the base salaries of educators in schools that report vacancy rates exceeding 5%. This initiative is projected to cost approximately $45 million per year, summing up to $90 million over the 2026-2027 biennium, with Yeager advocating for the use of the state’s Rainy Day Fund, which currently holds about $1.3 billion, to support this effort.

Supporters of Yeager’s initiative, including Republican legislators and representatives from the Charter School Association of Nevada, have underscored the need for equitable compensation for all public educators, anticipating that pay raises will help further stabilize the workforce and improve educational outcomes. The charter schools have long argued for similar benefits as those enjoyed by traditional public schools.

Despite the enthusiasm from some lawmakers, opposition has surfaced from the Nevada State Education Association and various education support professionals. They have expressed concerns about the exclusion of essential positions such as bus drivers and paraprofessionals from this pay raise discussion. While Yeager acknowledged the necessity for inclusive future legislation, he stated that extending current funding to include education support professionals would not be financially prudent.

The bill has intensified discussions around charter school funding, amidst threats from Republican Governor Joe Lombardo to veto any education budget that does not include pay raises for charter school teachers. This has created a rift between Democratic lawmakers and the governor, further complicating the budget negotiation landscape.

Lawmakers have emphasized the imperative of maintaining transparency and accountability regarding the allocation of pay raises for charter schools. They have called for oversight measures that mirror those in place for traditional public schools to ensure that resources are used effectively and ethically.

As the legislative session approaches its conclusion on June 2, negotiations remain ongoing. Both parties are making efforts to reach a consensus to address the pressing issue of educator compensation while navigating the complexities of the state budget and ongoing discussions about educational equity.

The introduction of Assembly Bill 398 marks a pivotal moment in Nevada’s educational landscape, reflecting the ongoing challenges and opportunities in providing competitive compensation for educators within both charter and traditional public schools.