WASHINGTON

Across the nation, teachers are losing spending power for themselves and their families as inflation outpaced increases in teacher salaries last year. 

According to the National Education Association's (NEA) update to the annual report titled, "Rankings and Estimates: Rankings of the States 2004 and Estimates of School Statistics 2005," inflation increased 3.1 percent over the past year, while teacher salaries increased by only 2.3 percent. Some of the key findings of the report include the following:

• Teacher salaries, which rose 2.3 percent to $47,808 since last year, failed to keep pace with the nation's 3.1 percent increase in inflation.
• Average teacher salaries actually declined in three states — Maine, West Virginia and Alabama.
• Education revenue increased 4.1 percent since last year.
• Education expenditures rose 4.7 percent over the past year.

NEA President Reginald Weaver expressed concern over the rate of inflation rising faster than increases in teachers' salaries, as school districts across the country struggle to attract and retain teachers in the profession.

"Without a firm commitment to raising teacher salaries, our schools will continue to have difficulty recruiting and retaining diversified teaching staffs that are prepared to meet the educational needs of our public school children," said Weaver. 

"It's unsettling that when the rate of inflation is considered, on average, our teachers are actually earning less this year than they did the previous year. We must do a better job of providing professional salaries to the teachers who are working directly with our children."

In 41 states and the District of Columbia, teachers saw their spending power shrink as a result of rising inflationary costs, and in three of these states — Maine, West Virginia, and Alabama — average teacher salaries dropped below the previous year's level.

Teacher salaries, however, increased at a rate higher than inflation in nine states, giving teachers more money to cover their living expenses, support their families, pay for continuing education, and save for unexpected emergencies.