Setting the Record Straight on Teacher Pay

Woman erasing blackboard in classroom
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In 2025, New America’s education team released a rapid-response analysis showing that reported teacher pay increases did not match classroom realities. The findings generated national media scrutiny and prompted congressional engagement, helping protect public understanding of education funding. We developed recommendations to help states take a more coherent, holistic approach to strengthening their teacher workforces that were reflected in the reintroduction of the Pay Teachers Act.