(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) joined Representatives Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and other lawmakers to introduce the American Teacher Act in support of America’s educators. The legislation would provide federal grants to incentivize states to establish a statewide K-12 teacher salary requirement of at least $60,000.

“For far too long, Missouri teachers have been overworked, underpaid, and underappreciated for the essential service they provide to every student and community in our state,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Our educators play an unparalleled role in shaping our children’s lives, and they are the key to unlocking the massive potential of America’s next generation of leaders. I’m proud to join my colleagues in the House of Representatives to introduce the American Teacher Act so that we can give Missouri teachers the pay raise they have earned and maintain a pipeline of quality, capable teachers. Supporting our children’s education—and the teachers who make that possible—should be a bipartisan effort, and I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to get this legislation passed by Congress.”

Missouri’s $51,557 average teacher salary currently ranks 47th in the country, with the average starting salary for Missouri teachers coming in at just above $33,000, which ranks 50th in the nation. A recent survey found that over half of Missouri teachers said they consider leaving the profession often or very often, with low salaries being a common complaint. Because of ongoing teacher shortages in communities throughout Missouri, due in part to low salaries, 25% of the state’s school districts now have a four-day week.

The American Teacher Act would address teacher shortages and increase teacher salaries by authorizing federal funding to support:

    Federal grants for the purpose of enacting and enforcing state legislation that establishes a statewide teacher salary requirement of $60,000, with 15% allocated to states and 85% to local educational agencies;
    A cost-of-living adjustment to ensure that minimum teacher salary keeps pace with inflation;
    A maintenance-of-effort provision to ensure states and districts do not replace currently committed allocations with federal funding;
    A part-time teacher provision that adjusts required minimum salary proportional to workload;
    A funding device that supports states and districts in closing the gap between current starting salaries and the $60,000 minimum over the course of 4 years;
    Investments in a national campaign to expand awareness of the value of teaching and recruit secondary and college students to a career in teaching.

“We as a nation have failed our educators for far too long—but we can change course with the American Teacher Act. I’m proud to co-introduce this impactful and critically important legislation to not only support Missouri teachers, but to ensure the children of our state can receive the highest quality education possible,” said Congressman Cleaver. “My Democratic colleagues and I will always advocate the needs of our students and teachers, and I’m hopeful that we can find some bipartisan agreement that will increase teacher pay and strengthen our pipeline of educators for years to come.”