Tennessee General Assembly Applauded for Increasing Teacher Salaries

NASHVILLE — Tennesseans for Student Success (TSS) released the following statement after the passage of legislation that shows Tennessee’s commitment to providing an excellent education for every student.  HB0329/SB0281 will help support and retain educators through the largest salary increase in state history.

“The teachers in our state are critical to improving achievement and increasing opportunities for students,” said TSS President and CEO Adam Lister. “Increasing teacher salaries to a nationally competitive rate helps school districts attract and retain the highest-quality educators for Tennessee students. In the last year, Governor Bill Lee and other leaders in our state have made historic investments in teacher salaries and student funding while overhauling the education funding formula to ensure we maximize every dollar to provide a great education for every student in Tennessee.”

This legislation passed the House today following its passage in the Senate earlier this month. It would require all teachers in Tennessee to receive a base salary that’s no less than:

• $42,000 for the 2023/2024 school year
• $44,000 for the 2024/2025 school year
• $47,000 for the 2025/2026 school year
• $50,000 for the 2026/2027 school year

Once signed by Governor Bill Lee, the legislation will make Tennessee a top 10 state in the nation for teacher pay.

Tennesseans for Student Success is a statewide network of parents and caregivers, teachers, community leaders, volunteers, and advocates dedicated to championing and supporting Tennessee’s students and their futures.