Sen. Vincente Borja applauded the completion of the 2026 Educator Pay Plan, describing it as a "long-overdue step toward fair compensation."

He commended the administration for completing the new educator plan, stating that "fair compensation" was the driving force behind the introduction of Bill 351-38.

Borja, chair of the Committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting, said the bill would give GDOE independent authority over its education compensation structure. He said it intends to take "politics out of educator compensation" by "reducing reliance on discretionary action by each successive administration."

"Teachers should not become a priority only during an election year," Borja said. "They serve our children every year, and their compensation should reflect a consistent commitment from their government. I welcome the Administration's action, but our educators deserve a system they can rely on beyond the next election."

He said the status of the bill in the Legislature's records shows an amended committee report filed Sept. 17, along with a Sept. 28 Department of Administration memorandum acknowledging that the governor approved the 2026 Educator Pay Plan and Administrator Differential on Sept. 18.

"With Bill 351-38, we put a concrete proposal forward because waiting was no longer acceptable," Borja said. "This pay plan advances the immediate goal of paying teachers more. The legislation addresses the responsibility we still have to make fair compensation a sustained priority."

He said the DOA memorandum also provides guidance for implementation of the 2026 Educator Pay Plan and Administrator Differential. Borja called the approval "meaningful progress" while also emphasizing that "timely implementation must follow so educators receive the benefit."

"At the end of the day, the goal has always been to pay our teachers more, and we have taken an important step toward that goal," Borja said. "Our teachers should be able to build their careers here with confidence that their work is valued. That has always been the purpose of this effort."

The Guam Federation of Teachers Union said in an Aug. 31 release that Bill 351-38 will allow teacher salaries to reach at least 95% of the national average teacher salary within five years.