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In a society where you get what you pay for, California got a bargain for years when it came to its public school teaching force. But in the past few years, California teachers have earned what they bargained for - solid pay increases that put them at the top of the pay scale nationwide. A recent study by the National Education Association rated the average California teacher salary in 2002 ($53,870) as the highest in the nation. And a similar study by the American Federation of Teachers placed California second, behind Connecticut. Both rankings were based on average annual salary without cost-of-living adjustments across the states. Still, when AFT factored in the higher California cost of living, California ranked 16th - a marked improvement from its previous spot near the bottom. According to EdSource, the average teacher salary in the state has increased about 20 percent since 1996 and the state's districts boast top-notch health benefit plans (worth as much as 15 percent of their salaries on average). No doubt, the past few years have been good to California teachers' bank accounts. Pay matches talent "I think a few years ago when California had money to invest and people looked at teacher salaries, there was a recognition that salaries were not competitive with the qualifications we want teachers to have," says Mary Perry, deputy director at EdSource, a nonprofit that studies and reports on educational issues. "The state made a decision collectively to make more money available for salaries and, in fact, school districts gave very generous raises to teachers during that time frame." State legislators also passed legislation encouraging a minimum beginning teacher salary of $34,000; a "Master Teacher" program to offer senior teachers more room for pay advancement without having to leave the classroom for administrative positions is being explored. California teachers no longer report salary as the top reason for leaving the profession, instead focusing on other concerns, such as control over curriculum, according to the California Teacher's Association. Despite the gains, many say California teachers deserve still bigger checks, especially in areas with high costs of living, such as Orange County. Of the more than 1,000 people nationwide who were recently polled by the Gallup Organization and Phi Delta Kappa International, 59 percent agreed that salaries for teachers were too low. About one-third of respondents felt teacher salaries were on target. Other work factors Debbie Coven, an Irvine Unified School District trustee, says in addition to competitive pay scales, districts and communities also should be looking at health benefits and affordable housing. "Especially in Orange County where you pay $1,400 for two-bedroom apartment, it's hard to survive on a beginning teacher's salary," she says. "Eventually they do OK at the top end, but that doesn't happen for many years. I think their starting pay has gone up, but it's still not competitive with other private sector jobs. It used to be practically everyone had a job getting out of college, but now that's not the case. We need some real structural reforms to attract and retain teachers." The reality is that teacher compensation will likely stay off the priority list for the next few years. In order to balance their budgets for this school year, most districts made cuts to special programs, instructional aides, libraries, technology and even some teaching positions. And the state isn't expected to recover from its economic woes by next year. Additionally, although teachers as a group won't get raises or cost-of-living increases, individuals still move up a stepped pay scale as they accumulate seniority. State fiscal woes "We now have a budget deficit," says Perry of EdSource. "The problem is when you give salary increases, it's an ongoing cost. You can't take those back. The situation we're in now is that's where the state invested and things are tight. It is fine we made that investment and that may in fact have been the right choice. But, today California's schools are trying to figure out how to maintain those raises against budget cuts." Does that mean California won't get what it can't pay for, namely first-class teaching? That's highly unlikely. Teachers point out that their chosen career is much more than just a means to pay the bills. While teachers need money to subsist and districts view pay as an incentive to keep qualified candidates from leaving the profession or choosing different careers altogether, teachers are rewarded by making a difference in children's lives and ensuring that future generations are prepared to further progress. Indeed, one needs only examine private schools to see that teachers look at the entire picture when evaluating their compensation. Although public school teachers have long seen lower salaries than peers with similar education levels who choose different careers, private school teachers make even less of an average salary. Cathy Murphy, a kindergarten teacher at Fairmont Private School in Anaheim, has the same certifications as her counterparts in public schools. Yet, she makes a lower salary than if she moved to the local school district. Although she considered public schools, she decided to try Fairmont and "was hooked." "No. 1, I love our curriculum and one of biggest things is that the teachers at Fairmont have a lot of input into choosing what curriculum we like and what we think we could really be successful with for our children," Murphy says. "The administration also really backs the teachers. To me, that's a big thing. It makes me happy and I think when teachers are happy, kids are happy. I take a lot less pay to be in a situation like that where you have kids you can pass on to the next grade and you know they're going to be successful. It makes you feel good." She also enjoys the academic freedom of a private school. "There's not a lot of red tape. When I hear what my friends (at the public schools) have to go through, it isn't much fun and is very frustrating for them." Pressure to succeed Despite the increased pressure on public school teachers to produce test-savvy students and the often rapid shifts in curriculum throughout California's educational history, the state's schools are filled with dedicated professionals who make a difference in children's lives every day - pay raise or not. For their duty to keep this generation prepared to compete in a knowledge-based economy, the recent increases in pay are not enough, says Coven. While the increase in pay is noteworthy, it needs to continue. And the state also should look at other areas where it spends money, such as per-student spending to supplement what teachers provide, she says. "The dedicated teachers just don't work from 9 to 3," she says. "They'll go the extra mile for kids. Papers to grade, professional development and continuing education - they do a lot of things outside the classroom," she says. And yes, they do get several weeks off each year. But those are well-earned breaks. "When you're dealing with kids ongoing, I think they need a break. Even if they worked a couple more months, I'm not sure they would still be competitive. They do put long hours in and education is so important in a kid's life. Paying what we pay them is just not enough for that importance in our kids' lives." Jennifer Leuer of Yorba Linda is an education reporter. To reach her: leuer.ramus@sbcglobal.net. By the Numbers in OC Although the average California teacher salary was $53,870 in 2002, according to the National Education Association, there are great variations among school districts when it comes to pay scales. Additionally, other benefits such as health coverage and time off for training aren't factored into salary figures, yet contribute to a teacher's total compensation package. A district's size, geographic location and population makeup all impact the amount of its teacher salaries. In the 2000-01 school year, for instance, starting salaries across the state ranged from a low of $20,227 to a high of $49,720, according to EdSource. During that same school year, salaries for veteran teachers ranged from a low of $32,000 to a high of $86,572. The following sampling of local pay scales for credentialed teachers are taken from the 2002-03 school year salary schedules. Irvine Unified School District First-year teacher, bachelor's degree: $41,378 10 years experience, master's degree or continuing education: $56,250 22 years experience, master's degree plus additional courses: $73,296 Magnolia School District First-year teacher, bachelor's degree: $36,850 10 years experience, master's degree or continuing education: $60,945 21 years experience, master's degree plus continuing education: $73,640 Brea Olinda Unified School District* First-year teacher, bachelor's degree: $35,162 10 years experience, master's degree or continuing education: $56,410 22 years experience, master's degree plus continuing education: $74,156 *2003-04 salary schedule - Compiled by Jennifer Leuer |
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