The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and Baltimore Teachers Union (BTU) have approved a new two-year agreement, securing targeted compensation increases and addressing other key issues to support employees.
Key terms of the agreement include:
Competitive salary increases: Delivers across-the-board pay raises of 2 percent in FY27 and 2.3 percent in FY28. When combined with typical annual interval movement, most members will experience a cumulative compensation increase around 10.3 percent over the two-year period.
Increased extra-duty compensation: Across-the-board rate increases will apply directly to stipend rates and compensation for work performed outside standard school hours.
Healthcare costs: We look forward to collaborating with our union partners to develop solutions for BTU employees to rising healthcare costs and to ensure its members receive quality health care with affordable insurance premiums.
Updated provisions: The parties updated 39 articles in the overall contract that improve or clarify the employee experience.
"The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners is grateful to have reached an agreement with BTU that demonstrates how much we value the professionals who make a difference in student achievement every day," said Robert Salley, Baltimore City School Board Chair. "This new contract provides rate increases for teachers while ensuring they continue to have access to quality, affordable health care. We thank CEO Dr. Dawson, our Human Capital and Legal teams, and our partners at the Baltimore Teachers Union for their indispensable work and collaboration throughout the negotiation process. This agreement underscores the importance of working together to support our teachers and, ultimately, our students."
This agreement marks the district’s latest decisive action to deliver competitive, sustainable salaries for educators amidst broader economic fluctuations and rising consumer costs.
“Our educators are the indispensable foundation of our mission to prepare students for higher education and family-sustaining careers,” said Dr. Jermaine Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Baltimore City Public Schools. “This agreement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our teachers. By investing directly in their financial well-being and professional growth, we ensure that City Schools remains a place where exceptional educators can thrive, stay, and lead our students to success.”