Re-introducing legislation he championed in 2022, Del. Nadarius Clark (HD-84) will carry legislation raising teacher pay in Virginia to America's national average.
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Delegate Nadarius Clark re-introduced legislation to raise the baseline salary for all public school teachers in Virginia and ensure that it could not fall below America's national average. This bill mirrors legislation Del. Clark brought forward in his first year as delegate in 2022. This new bill, HB 187, would further require that instructional and non-instructional support staff, such as teacher aids and resource officers, would also benefit from the new raise.
Speaking to what he sees as a new opportunity to fully fund public schools, putting teachers and their students first, Delegate Nadarius Clark said, "Our Commonwealth is losing well trained, experienced, and qualified educators to neighboring states that have made clear in their budgets that public education is a top priority. HB 187 will ensure that we are investing in the next generation of Virginians by paying our teachers what they deserve."
"Virginia teachers cannot adequately educate our children if they are worried about having to make ends meet or putting food on their table. Delegate Clark's bill will not only ensure that we can be competitive in attracting and retaining world-class local teachers in our public school system, but also ensure that we are supporting our teachers and rewarding their work developing the next generation," said Delegate Sam Rasoul. Del. Rasoul is the Chair-designee of the House Education Committee.
The bill follows precedent set by Education Chair-designee Sam Rasoul, who also introduced a bill to raise teacher pay in Virginia to the national average in 2023 before it was killed on a party line vote by the then-Republican majority. To learn more about the legislative priorities of Del. Clark, subscribe to the Clark for Delegate official newsletter at www.clarkfordelegate.com and visit Del. Clark's chief patron portal on LIS.
