Education Week has an adequate story about how governors in several states are proposing plans to steer more money to teachers. They do not mention the 5% yearly increases in teacher pay proposed by Governor Easley, but some of the other proposals are worth mentioning.
The Good
Alaska: Gov. Frank H. Murkowski is proposing bonuses from $1,000 to $5,500, based on student test scores.
Massachusetts: Gov. Mitt Romney is seeking cash bonuses of up to $15,000 for math and science teachers, Advanced Placement teachers, and those whose students make the most academic gains.
Mississippi: Gov. Haley Barbour has proposed extra pay for teachers whose students have the highest test-score gains, and higher salaries for teachers in hard-to-staff schools.
The OK/Suspect
Arizona: Gov. Janet Napolitano has introduced a plan to raise the minimum salary to $30,000 and provide bonuses of $800 for teachers already above that salary.
Maine: Gov. John Baldacci wants to increase the starting salary to $30,000.
The Bad
Alabama: Gov. Bob Riley wants a hike in teachers? pay of 2.75 percent to 5 percent, depending on experience.
Georgia: Gov. Sonny Perdue is seeking a 4 percent across-the-board raise, with some teachers receiving raises of up to 7 percent. (Sonny is also throwing in a $100 gift card)
Iowa: Gov. Tom Vilsack has proposed raising the state?s average teacher salary to the national average.
Kentucky: Gov. Ernie Fletcher wants to raise the average teacher salary to equal the average for surrounding states.
Virginia: Gov. Timothy M. Kaine advocates increasing the average teacher salary to the national average.
