We are making major steps toward boosting pay, now we need to do the things that will make teaching more like other professions. One of the ways to do that is merit-based pay. The survey also revealed strong public support for three other CABL recommendations. Eighty-six percent of the voters surveyed say they want to change Louisiana's current system of lifetime certification for teachers. They favor instead a system more like other states where teachers must periodically update their skills to renew their teaching certificate.
Voters also support lengthening the school year as salaries go up.
Finally, on the issue of early-childhood education, voters voiced strong support. There's more work to do to improve student performance, and we still need to look at tax reform if we have any hope of continuing to invest in education. Wirthlin Worldwide conducted the survey of 602 registered voters March 13-14, 2001.