The Illinois Senate has voted to raise the minimum salary for teachers.

The previous minimum of $9,000 was set back in the 80’s.

State Senator Andy Manar says many teachers in Illinois are living in poverty.

Manar’s bill raises the salary minimum to $32,000 starting with the 2019-2020 school year and gradually increases to 40 thousand by 2022.

Critics wonder how schools will pay for the new mandate. The bill now moves to the house.