Committee backs substitute to set four-year goal for raising teacher pay to national average

A Senate education subcommittee voted to recommend reporting a substitute of S.B. 284 that sets a policy goal and four-year benchmark for raising teacher compensation to the national average.

Sponsor testimony emphasized persistent teacher shortages and long-standing failure to reach the national pay average, saying the substitute "puts a firm stake in the ground" and establishes a transparent benchmark for future budgets. Chad Stewart of the Virginia Education Association and local superintendents spoke in support, framing the change as essential to retaining educators and addressing vacancy rates.

Proponents acknowledged the fiscal cost and urged caucus and budget-level efforts to make it real; committee members approved reporting by voice vote.

The subcommittee’s recommendation sends the policy goal and substitute language forward for consideration in subsequent stages of the legislature’s budget and policy negotiations.