Klinker files bill to increase minimum teacher salary

During the 2024 legislative session, State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) is proposing House Bill 1037 to increase the minimum teacher salary to $60,000. School corporations that cannot meet this requirement must submit a report to the Department of Education explaining why they cannot meet the pay threshold. Under current law, the minimum salary is $40,000 for each full-time teacher. 

Rep. Klinker released the following statement regarding her legislation: 

“Teachers need to know that they’re valued and appreciated. It’s essential that teacher pay reflects the hard work and dedication of our educators. We’re experiencing a nationwide teacher shortage, so we need to encourage people to come into our profession. Raising the minimum salary to a competitive pay is the start of recruiting new educators. This is an increase that's been recommended since the 2020 report by Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission. Some school corporations may have trouble meeting this requirement, so it is incumbent on the legislature to ensure this salary proposal is feasible for smaller school corporations. 

“As a former retired teacher, I understand how desperately our profession needs this increase. Teacher salaries have remained stagnant, and our educators have lost their benefits. Teachers no longer have mandated discussion items. We must encourage people to join – and stay – in our profession. Education is one of my top priorities, and it’s time that teachers make a competitive salary in Indiana.”