Kentucky: Teacher and School Grants for Math, Chemistry, Physics and Expanded AP Classes

Tom O'Neill:

SB1 would provide $10,000 grants to help schools start advanced-placement courses. Students scoring highly on the AP exams and who receive free or reduced-price lunches would be eligible for $200 to $300 in state scholarships.

Under SB2, teachers could get salary bumps if they perform well on the teacher-certification tests in math, chemistry and physics.

The two-year cost of the bills is estimated at $4.7 million and $9.2 million, respectively. The savings to students from exam costs and tuition assistance is estimated at $7.9 million for the two years.

By comparison, giving every teacher in Kentucky a 1 percent raise would cost the state $23 million a year, Kelly said.

The Senate has passed both bills, and they are now awaiting assignments to House committees.

Supporters of the measures include University of Kentucky President Lee Todd and the influential Lexington-based Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence.

The primary opponent is the KEA, which represents 38,000 public school teachers in Kentucky.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 5, 2007 6:17 PM
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