Opinion ID: 1688462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: exclusion of teachers' salaries from equalization

Text: Funding based on determined costs is mandated for each component of the basic education plan except teachers' salaries. The allocation for teachers' salaries to each local system is the product of the amount of the system's average teacher salary, based on the State salary schedule plus the mandated local supplement, multiplied by the number of BEP teacher positions in that local system. Local systems are allowed to use classroom funds for any of the classroom components and they are allowed to use system support funds for any of the system support components. However, they are prohibited from using BEP funds for the purpose of increasing teachers' salaries. Since the adoption of the BEP, teachers have received the same increases in salaries as other State employees, except the total amount paid teachers has been distributed according to the BEP formula. However, there is no provision in the BEP for increasing teachers' salaries or equalizing teachers' salaries. The State's explanation, and justification, for this treatment of the funding of teachers' salary increases is that historically all funds made available to local systems have been applied to teachers' salaries, resulting in other needs being neglected. The State takes the position in this case that increasing and equalizing teachers' salaries is not a component of a basic education, that it does not affect student performance. The argument is dramatically weakened by the inclusion of this item in earlier BEP proposals. The decision by the architects of the BEP to prohibit the use of classroom funds and system support funds to increase teachers' salaries does not require that funds for teachers' salary increases be excluded from the plan. Obviously, it can be a separate category of funding, along with classroom components and support system components. The omission of a requirement for equalizing teachers' salaries is a significant defect in the BEP. The rationale supporting the inclusion of the other important factors constituting the plan is equally applicable to the inclusion of teachers' salaries. Teachers, obviously, are the most important component of any education plan or system, and compensation is, at least, a significant factor determining a teacher's place of employment. The costs of teachers' compensation and benefits is the major item in every education budget. The failure to provide for the equalization of teachers' salaries according to the BEP formula, puts the entire plan at risk functionally and, therefore, legally.