New Mexico plans to deliver 7% raises to educators

Category: News
Published: 2021-12-06
New Mexico plans to deliver 7% raises to educators

NEW MEXICO – New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that her administration will seek a seven percent raise for all education personnel in that state as part of her legislative agenda for the upcoming 2022 session, increasing the salaries of more than 50,000 K-12 educators and school staff across the state.

The significant salary increase would be accompanied by additional increases to base salary levels for educators in the state’s three-tier licensing system, raising minimum teacher pay to 50.000, 60.000 and 70.000, representing an average total increase of 35%.

In 2019, after years of cuts to public education, the governor authorized six percent raises for all New Mexico educators, while also dramatically increasing educator salary levels as part of a nearly US$500 million investment in public schools that year.

That salary increase was followed by an additional two percent across-the-board raise for educators in 2020.

“New Mexico educators deserve better compensation – it’s as simple as that. Their tireless work for students and communities and their efforts to overcome countless challenges during the pandemic underscore the passion and commitment they have brought to their jobs day in and day out,” said Lujan Grisham.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the seven percent raise, along with higher salaries for new teachers, will make New Mexico more competitive and increase educators’ average pay to US$64,006, putting the state on par with the national average.

Like most of the United States, New Mexico faces a shortage of educators, with more teachers retiring or leaving the profession than entering it.

The total estimated cost of the recurring appropriation for educator raises and educator base salary increases is approximately US$280 million.

In addition to granting raises to educators and increasing base salary levels for teachers, several programs have also been enacted to support New Mexico’s teachers and attract citizens to the profession.

One of the programs is “Grow your Own Teachers,” which consists of scholarships to school personnel for educational degrees at institutions of higher education.

Also, the teacher preparation accessibility grant program provides funds to students enrolled in plans to become teachers. While a third support is teacher loan repayment that provides funds for student debt repayment for education workers in high-need areas in public schools.

School staff raises and increased minimum salary levels are among numerous agenda items included in the budget request submitted by the Public Education Department, including US$20 million for technology and student connectivity, US$19 million to provide mental health service providers for students, a doubling of the community schools grant, and increased funding for career technical education, early literacy, and the Indian Education Fund.

Source: MEXICO-NOW Staff