Bill > HB279

This bill mandates that the Governor's budget proposals for the 2027 and 2028 legislative sessions must include funding to raise the average teacher salary in the Commonwealth to at least the national average by the end of fiscal year 2029. This will be achieved through compensation supplement incentives for instructional and support positions funded by the Standards of Quality, which are state-mandated educational standards. To determine the national average, the bill specifies using the most recent data from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's (JLARC) "Virginia Compared to the Other States" report, adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). Similarly, the Commonwealth's current average teacher salary will be projected using the same JLARC report, accounting for previous state-funded pay increases and assuming local governments fully match these increases. The funding for this salary increase will be phased in, with half of the required amount to be proposed in the 2027 budget and the remaining half in the 2028 budget, ensuring the target is met by fiscal year 2029.

Budget and Finance

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB279