Asa Hutchinson: “I support the education initiative that is before us because it provides more funds for education, provides assessments…”

“I support the education initiative that is before us because it provides more funds for education, provides assessments of the progress of students, and it provides more flexibility to the States. But it does more, in my judgment, than justify support. It does something for teachers. My son, Seth, this week is graduating from the public schools in Fort Smith. He has done well, but he has done well to a large extent because of one teacher who went the extra mile to help him out. His name is Mr. Larry Jones. He gave extra hours, and was a career-minded, student-oriented teacher who made a difference in someone's life. Yet, he received no more pay for his extra ability and devotion. Quality teachers in my judgment should be paid well, encouraged, and rewarded for their success. This bill includes a provision in title II that I worked on with the committee that allows States and school districts to obtain funding for professional development of teachers; pay differentiation, which rewards teachers' individual efforts based upon leadership, student achievement, and peer review; and it also provides new approaches, funding for new approaches to provide teachers with optional career paths, such as career, mentor, and master teacher designations.”