Kaye’s legislation to raise teacher pay is defeated in subcommittee.

My bill calling for Virginia to pay its teachers at a rate that is competitive with the national average teachers salary was killed in subcommittee on a totally partisan vote.  This bill is purely goal–setting without any financial committments.  There was no clear reason to kill it–just a ‘we’ve spent enough time on this and she needs to go away’.  The good news (about my effort to begin a statewide conversation about how overworked and underpaid Virginia’s teachers are) is that I presented the bill twice to 2 different groups before it was killed. I am pleased to have my voice heard in support of our teachers.  I will submit this same bill for the next session as a resolution, which I am told might be easier to pass. Teachers salaries should not be a partisan issue!  I should mention that the Education Chairman, Delegate Tata, was instrumental in allowing me 2 opportunities to speak.  I do thank him.