CTA representatives are working to defeat an opposed measure that would allow funds to be transferred from categorical programs to pay differentials for teachers in designated disciplines at specific locations.
SB 1660, by Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), would allow school districts to bargain a two-tier pay structure that would undermine morale and undercut the effectiveness of all teachers at a particular site. The measure is currently pending on the Senate floor.
The measure seeks to address the shortage of math and science teachers in decile 1, 2 and 3 schools. CTA advocates note that the bill does not deal with the specific source of the problem — too few teacher candidates in these disciplines in the credentialing pipeline.
The measure also does not focus on the larger problem: the chronic underfunding of public education that has California ranked 46th nationally in per-pupil funding. As a result of these school funding shortfalls, beginning teacher salaries fall significantly behind the starting salaries of many competing professions.
CTA believes that every student should have a high-quality education taught by a qualified teacher with appropriate training and credentialing. Improving the teaching and learning conditions at these lower-decile schools would go much further in helping to attract and keep the teachers that these schools need.
Len Feldman
