Though it may not be the next million-dollar startup or cutting-edge industry, those looking to enter the field of education may soon get a boost in pay thanks to legislation that would raise starting teachers’ pay to $40,000 in the state.

Not only would this serve as a well-deserved compensation boost for educators, but it would provide an incentive for college students to consider the field of education as a sustainable profession as well as drawing in out-of-state teachers looking to work in a more competitive market.

According to a Seattle Times article by Walker Orenstein on Feb. 22, the plan is part of the supplemental budget that the Senate is set to propose in the next few weeks.

Funding for the increase in pay for beginning teachers is proposed to come by closing several tax exemptions in the state budget.

A shortage of quality teachers has hit Washington schools extremely hard, to the point where 93 percent of 733 public school principals surveyed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2015 claimed that they were struggling to find qualified teachers to apply for positions, according to the article.

Properly funding teachers is one way the state is looking to fill this void.

In an article published by Q13 Fox, Rep. Kristine Lytton, D-Anacortes, states, “We believe that the children of our state are entitled to a great education. So this is a small step to move forward, but an important step for us.” She advocates for the state’s plan to allocate funds by closing tax loopholes, stating that “corporations aren’t entitled to those tax breaks.”

Currently, the minimum starting pay for teachers with a bachelor’s degree in most Washington state school districts is about $35,000 – a less than impressive number for what many would consider a demanding profession.

According to The Spokesman-Review, teachers in the Pullman School District made an average of just over $38,000 per year during the 2014-15 school year.

This legislation would help not only raise the salary of first-year teachers in Pullman, but that of all educators who are earning less than the proposed minimum.

This problem is not unique to the state of Washington, as many other states face similar dilemmas, looking to fix the problem of unqualified candidates for positions or no candidates at all.

An article published by The Washington Post back in 2014 explores stories of teachers around the country who are being forced to leave the profession altogether simply to make a living. The article references an organization, The Teacher Salary Project, which looks to improving the salary of teachers in the U.S.

Washington may be on the forefront of a more progressive pay scale for educators, and it will pay dividends in the future.

It is no secret that in this ever-growing world economy, students must be prepared to be active citizens. This starts in the classroom and with the teacher.

By giving motivation to those who want to enter the field of education, but are lured away by more lucrative options, more qualified individuals will be drawn to the profession and potential teachers will be motivated and feel that their work is valued.

This small yet important step is crucial to ensuring there is a strong generation of future educators entering the field. It will improve the quality of education students receive and thus improve society as a whole. Make the push to fund educators and help secure the future of our educational system.