Louisiana teachers could be one step closer to receiving permanent pay raises following an executive order signed Tuesday by Gov. Jeff Landry aimed at identifying long-term funding for educator compensation.
Landry said the order is designed to address what he described as a long-standing issue in Louisiana’s education funding system by redirecting existing resources rather than creating new taxes or reducing classroom funding.
Under the executive order, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) have been directed to identify and redirect approximately $168 million in non-instructional expenditures. State officials said essential services such as school security, transportation and food services would remain protected.
The governor emphasized that the proposal does not reduce teacher salaries, cut classroom funding or require tax increases. Instead, he said the goal is to create a stable, formula-based funding source for teacher pay raises rather than relying on annual legislative negotiations.
Landry said the move is part of a broader effort to provide educators with consistent support and remove teacher compensation from political debates.
The proposal will still require approval from the Louisiana Legislature before any permanent funding changes can take effect.
State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said he is reviewing the executive order and will work with BESE to determine the next steps.
Brumley noted that teachers have played a significant role in Louisiana’s recent academic improvements and said increased compensation remains an important priority. However, he also acknowledged that local school systems may face difficult budget decisions as they evaluate how the proposed funding changes could affect their operations.
The executive order follows recent efforts by state leaders to identify a permanent funding source for teacher pay raises after Louisiana voters rejected a constitutional amendment related to education funding during the May election.
The governor’s action also complements a Senate Concurrent Resolution that would establish a task force to study Louisiana’s Minimum Foundation Program formula, which determines how public education funding is distributed throughout the state. The resolution recently received approval from both chambers of the Legislature.
Under the proposal, the task force would review funding options and submit recommendations to lawmakers and the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library by Jan. 1.
State leaders say the goal is to develop a long-term solution that provides Louisiana teachers with stable, permanent salary increases while maintaining support for local school systems and students across the state.