State Leaders Scrutinize School Compliance with ACT 311's Teacher Compensation Requirements
BATON ROUGE, La. — State leaders are closely examining local schools for possible non-compliance with ACT 311, a pivotal new law that took effect in August 2024. This legislation requires educational institutions to provide a detailed breakdown of job duties and associated pay for teachers, including additional responsibilities such as aftercare, carline duties, and participation in athletic events.
ACT 311 mandates that schools clearly outline which job functions are included in the base salary and which qualify for extra compensation. Sen. Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia), the architect of the bill, has raised concerns that some schools may not be adhering to these requirements. “We are still in the early stages of our investigation and have yet to make any formal allegations,” Miguez stated. “However, we have received anonymous reports from teachers indicating that their schools have expanded job duties to encompass all responsibilities, potentially to avoid providing additional pay.”
Miguez emphasized that this practice could undermine the law's intent by incorporating extra duties into the standard salary rather than offering supplementary compensation as stipulated. “The law requires schools to present a comprehensive salary schedule and a separate additional salary schedule. It is crucial for us to understand what is included in the additional salary schedule,” he added.
Tia Mills, President of the Louisiana Association of Educators, also voiced her concerns about the situation. “The absence of detailed schedules is alarming. It is essential to address any gaps in the information provided to ensure fair compensation for teachers,” Mills said.
Despite these issues, officials recognize that many school systems have successfully adapted to the new requirements. To address potential discrepancies and ensure compliance, state leaders have requested that local school systems submit detailed reports outlining their regular and additional salary schedules.
Sen. Miguez anticipates reviewing these reports in an upcoming meeting scheduled for October, aiming to resolve any compliance issues and ensure the law’s effective implementation.
