Senator Feinstein Introduces Legislation to Establish $50 Million Master Teacher Program
July 26, 2000

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation that would authorize the Secretary of Education to award $50 million to school districts for the creation of master teacher positions.

“The thrust of the master teacher concept is to keep good teachers in the classroom,” Senator Feinstein said. “This bill enables school districts to pay experienced teachers salaries closer to those of administrators.”

“These master teachers would then help less experienced teachers to improve instruction, develop curriculum and deal with the difficulties of the classroom.”

Under the bill, the Department of Education is given the authority to award $50 million grants over 5 years on a competitive basis to school districts. The bill also requires state and/or local districts to equally match federal funds. Thus, $100 million will be made available for master teacher positions.

With these funds, school districts could add $20,000 to a teacher’s salary. At this level, 5,000 master teacher positions would be created across the country.

In order to be a master teacher, teachers must:

• Have a credential;
• Have at least 5 years of teaching experience;
• Be judged to be an excellent teacher by administrators and teachers who are knowledgeable about the individual’s performance;
• Be currently teaching; and
• Enter into a contract and agree to serve at least five more years.

The bill also requires the Department of Education to give priority to school districts with a high proportion of economically disadvantaged students and to ensure
that grants are awarded to districts of different sizes, locations and economic and ethnic make-up.

Nationally, the average teacher salary is $40,582. In California, it is $44, 585. Elementary school principals, however, receive $64,653 on average nationally and $72,385 in California.