Senator Marko Liias (D-Lynnwood) has released a new edition of his Washington White Board video series, arguing that state officials pay entry-level public school teachers so little they qualify for public assistance.  Senator Liias has also introduced a bill to create a state income tax.

In the White Board video he says teachers with masters degrees receive only $40,820 from the state for a ten-month work year.  Calling this “a deplorable situation,” he has introduced a bill to raise these salaries to $48,000.  Sen. Liias says, “we need to make sure our teachers can take care of their families...and be economically self-sufficient.”

He’s right.  But why has Senator Liias agreed to such low level of teacher pay in the first place? There’s certainly no shortage of money.  Let’s use the Washington White Board method and do the math.

On average, school districts receive $11,300 per student in funding from all sources, more than the yearly tuition at many private schools.  That level of funding equals $293,800 for a typical public school classroom of 26 students.  If state officials paid the teacher, say, $110,000 for a ten-month work year, that would leave $183,800 to cover all the other educational expenses for students.

Wealthy school districts have even more money available.  Seattle spends $13,700 per student, nearly twice what it costs to attend a Catholic grade school in the city.  That’s $356,200 for a typical classroom of 26 students.  If officials paid the teacher $110,000 for the ten-month work year, they would have $246,200 to cover all other educational expenses for students.

As an added note, Sen. Liias misrepresents teachers by not including the full compensation they receive.  Teachers receive more than the base salary provided by the state.  This year, the average statewide salary for teachers is $62,377 for a ten-month year, including a average of $9,800 in supplemental pay provided by local levies.  For comparison, the median household income in Washington in $58,000 for a twelve-month year.

Senator Liias says we need a state income tax to provide higher state spending, such as higher teacher salaries.

State taxpayers are providing an extra $3 billion in tax revenue over the next two years. With the record level of funding the state gives school districts now, state leaders like Sen. Liias could increase pay for starting teachers substantially, without raising people’s taxes.