Dive Brief:

• An $8.4 million dollar proposal by Richmond, VA, Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden seeks to restructure compensation for district teachers and provide better pay in an attempt to increase teacher retention and improve education quality in the area. 
• At the same time, the district is facing "budget woes," WTVR reports, including the fact that this year's proposed school budget is $26 million dollars higher than last year's. 
• Some of the city's teachers haven't had a raise in the last eight years. 

Dive Insight:

According to Richmond School Board member Kristen Larson, "experienced teachers are leaving because they aren't making money based on how long they've been in the system." That's why Bedden's plan is to restructure how all teachers are paid, not just give boosts or bonuses as temporary incentives, or lower standards in order to attract cheaper newbie educators.

Other districts similarly struggling with teacher retention and hiring should take note of Bedden's plan, especially as details around how it will be funded are revealed. Studies have shown that students do "reap benefits" from teachers with better compensation. 

States like Arizona, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, and North Carolina are all engaged in varying tactics aimed at battling the teacher shortage and retention problem.