DESE to testify Monday about teacher recruitment and retention

Missouri’s House Budget Committee will hear testimony Monday afternoon from state education officials about teacher recruitment and retention.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson has called for increasing the baseline salary for new teachers to $38,000, saying the Show-Me State ranks 50^th in the nation for starting teacher pay.

House Budget Committee chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) tells 939 the Eagle that the committee is interested in hearing more today about the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) federal spending proposals.

“Specifically how they’re addressing learning loss and teacher recruitment and retention,” Chairman Smith says.

Per Missouri statute, the minimum teacher salary is now $25,000 and the average starting teacher salary is $32,970. Governor Parson says half of Missouri’s new teachers leave the profession by their fifth year, describing that as unacceptable.

Chairman Smith expects Education Commissioner Dr. Margie Vandeven to be at today’s noon hearing.