The Dallas ISD’s proposed budget for the 2026-2027 school year includes raises for exempt campus and central team members, differentiated increases for team members in excellence initiatives, and an increase to $17.50 an hour in the district’s minimum wage.
The proposed increases in salaries for teachers amount to $56.4 million in the 2026-2027 budget and focus on the district’s compensation priorities: market-competitive salaries, Dallas ISD’s commitment to a living wage, strategic compensation, and stipends for service at identified District Support Initiative campuses. The stipend for bilingual teachers has increased to $5,000. Additionally, the DSI stipend level for eligible teachers and campus leaders has increased by $1,000 for 2026-2027.
Increases for excellence initiatives
The proposed budget also sets the minimum certified teacher salary at $68,000 and has adjustments to the new hire schedule for teachers to match market rates. Returning teachers will receive a projected average teacher salary increase of approximately $3,500 or 5% on average, based on the greater of three increases:
- Change to effectiveness level
- Change in effectiveness level compensation value
- Board approved differentiated salary increase (2% of compensation level)
Proposed TEI compensation levels
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The proposed budget also includes increases for other employees who are evaluated through an excellence initiative—assistant principals, principals, school counselors, and school leadership executive directors. Increases for excellence initiative team members are paid in October 2026 retroactive to contract start date.
This year, school counselor salaries will be based on scorecard results from the inaugural School Counselor Excellence Initiative. Based on the 2025-2026 evaluation rating, counselors will receive a differentiated salary increase based on overall performance. In addition to the board-approved increase, counselors who reach an evaluation rating of Proficient or higher can expect up to an additional 3% increase this year. Like the existing excellence initiatives, increases for these team members are paid in October 2026 retroactive to contract start date.
Minimum wage and other central increases
The proposed increase to $17.50 per hour in the minimum wage continues to place Dallas ISD as a regional leader in minimum wage among area school districts and primarily impacts support and operations team members.
Employees not on an excellence initiative will see the greater of two increases:
- Minimum wage adjustment to $17.50 per hour or
- 2% of the midpoint for support (non-exempt) employees and professional (exempt) employees
Campus and central team members who are not on an excellence initiative will see the increase reflected in their paychecks starting in September if they were hired before Dec. 31, 2025.
