Which lawmakers are planning to help Oklahoma educators

As lawmakers head to the State Capitol, teacher pay will be front and center. New plans are emerging to help the state's educators, but there is disagreement over how to pay for them. There is not much disagreement on the problem -- unchanged pay and a series of budget cuts have squeezed teachers to the brink. Filling teaching jobs and keeping those educators in Oklahoma classrooms are getting even tougher. Schools already rely heavily on emergency certifications. Still, many roles remain unfilled. “I think 2017 has to be the year we finally make some movement on this,” Sen. David Holt said. Holt is proposing a $10,000 teacher raise. If passed, it would be rolled out over three years and teachers wouldn't have to pay taxes on their income. Two separate plans call for smaller pay increases. “It will reduce attrition rates and increase stability, and ultimately help the students,” Rep. Micky Dollens said. Dollens is proposing teacher loan forgiveness -- go to college here, and work in the same school for seven years, your loans would be forgiven. “Surrounding states are actively recruiting our teachers,” Dollens said. The problem with all these plans: Where's this money coming from? Lawmakers are already staring at a $900 million budget hole that has to be filled.

As lawmakers head to the State Capitol, teacher pay will be front and center. New plans are emerging to help the state's educators, but there is disagreement over how to pay for them.


There is not much disagreement on the problem -- unchanged pay and a series of budget cuts have squeezed teachers to the brink.



Filling teaching jobs and keeping those educators in Oklahoma classrooms are getting even tougher. Schools already rely heavily on emergency certifications. Still, many roles remain unfilled.

“I think 2017 has to be the year we finally make some movement on this,” Sen. David Holt said.

Holt is proposing a $10,000 teacher raise. If passed, it would be rolled out over three years and teachers wouldn't have to pay taxes on their income.

Two separate plans call for smaller pay increases.

“It will reduce attrition rates and increase stability, and ultimately help the students,” Rep. Micky Dollens said.

Dollens is proposing teacher loan forgiveness -- go to college here, and work in the same school for seven years, your loans would be forgiven.

“Surrounding states are actively recruiting our teachers,” Dollens said.

The problem with all these plans: Where's this money coming from?

Lawmakers are already staring at a $900 million budget hole that has to be filled.