26 SHARES Share Tweet Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Flipboard

The Alabama House overwhelmingly passed SB 192 on Tuesday, which provides a 4% pay raise for Alabama teachers and other public school employees. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) sponsored the bill.

The pay raise will put the starting salary for an Alabama teacher with a bachelors degree at $40,873. The national average starting salary for a public teacher is $39,249, according to the National Education Association.

While the bill passed with not a single no vote, one lawmaker, Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), said teachers deserved a more substantial raise.

The bill now heads to Governor Ivey where she is expected to sign it into law.