The long-awaited teacher pay raises could be coming to Louisiana educators in the near future. 

Gov. John Bel Edwards, D-Louisiana, cast his wish list for the state budget Friday. The outline of the executive budget includes over $100 million for teacher pay raises.

If that goes through, 60,000 Louisiana teachers, counselors, therapists and school nurses could see a $1,000 yearly raise.

Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter said Louisiana falls between $1,800 to $2,300 behind the Southern Regional average. A pay raise could decrease the gap, and potentially keep talented Louisiana educators in state.

“A pay raise for teachers and school employees in this state means we could hopefully compete with those other states that have recently, over the last two or three years, given their employees pay raises. We want to be competitive. We want to keep teachers and school employees here in Louisiana,” Carter said.

This is just the outlined budget, with nothing set in stone just yet. The governor is optimistic about it though because teacher pay raises is a topic that has garnered bi-partisan support.

“We are behind other southern states and we are dramatically behind the nation as a whole. I applaud the leadership. I’m grateful for what we are doing on the House side as well as the Senate side. I see sunshine and am very encouraged,” Sen. Gerald Long, R-Winnfield, said.

If the budget goes through as outlined, teachers could see raises by the start of the new school year in August.