Chalkbeat, January 29, 2019, by Stephanie Wang

Indiana is so far behind neighboring states in teacher compensation that it would cost an estimated $658 million to make salaries more competitive, according to a new report released Tuesday.

That price tag for raising the average teacher pay in Indiana to $59,455, which the report says would put Indiana at a regional median for salaries, comes as state lawmakers search for ways to fund teacher raises.

“Teachers in Indiana are severely behind in terms of pay,” said Stand for Children Indiana executive director Justin Ohlemiller. “It’s clear Indiana must address this pay gap if we want to turn the tide on the shortage.” Read full article…