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Lost in the debate about collective bargaining rights and the related issues of pay, pensions, and health care coverage is the dialogue about a core issue.  There is no clear correlation that better paid teachers produce better educated students.

Wisconsin teachers are among the most vocal opponents of Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to curtail some collective bargaining rights.   Though there is  little doubt that good teachers improve student achievement, the evidence that well-compensated educators produce better prepared students is mixed.   Wisconsin is a case in point.

Wisconsin teachers fare slightly worse than the national average with starting salaries of $32,642 and a maximum with a master’s degree of $60,036.   The Tax Foundation says  its tax burden is the fourth worst in the  U.S. and its  QualityCounts rating was a C+, about average.   What the state underscores is how a dysfunctional system of teacher pay rewards educators with little emphasis on merit.  Throwing more money at teachers, however, is not the answer to the myriad of problems affecting the nation’s schools.

Data reviewed by 24/7 Wall St. from the National Education Association,  The American Federation of Teachers, PayScale.com along with discussions with experts from Education Trust, the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute found that there are states with well-paid teachers with superior student achievement such as New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  Others such as Connecticut and California where teachers are paid well and the educational results are average as measured by the QualityCounts survey issued by Education  Week. Florida did well in QuallityCounts  even though its teachers are among the poorest paid in the country. All these states except Florida rank among the highest among state and local tax burdens, according to the Tax Foundation.  The Sunshine State ranked 31st.

The National Education Association, the largest teacher’s union, estimates starting salaries for teachers at $35,139 with a bachelor’s degree.   Educators with a master’s degree earn as much as $64,883.   Of course, teacher’s salaries vary widely depending on the tax revenue available, cost of living and the strength of the local union.  They are largely funded by local property taxes.  Moreover, their salaries far exceed the wages paid to their counterparts at non-union private schools, according to Reason magazine.  Most teachers also received defined benefit pension plans and other benefits not given to their counterparts in private industry.  Some districts are pushing the idea of merit pay, which the teacher’s unions have fought.

“I would love to say dramatically raise their pay,” says Richard Lemons of the Education Trust, in an interview.   He added that there is no evidence yet that dramatically boosting a mediocre teacher’s pay will inspire them to become better at their jobs.  In theory, higher teacher pay will entice higher quality candidates into the professions though there is little evidence that shows these people will be any more competent than existing teachers.

Though money won’t solve the myriad of woes affecting our nation’s schools, it certainly helps.  According to the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), many people are turned off by the profession because of its low starting salary, which trails the pay of educators around the world.   Teachers have also been “losing ground” to other professions for years,  EPI says. A 2008 report by the Economic Policy Institute argues that teachers with bachelor’s degrees earned about 12.2 percent less than their peers in 2006, while the gap between teachers and non-teachers with a master’s degree was 11.3 percent.  The implications are stark.

According to a report released last year by the Education Trust, students in high-poverty schools are  ” disproportionately taught by out-of-field and rookie teachers.”  US students still lag behind their peers around the world in math and science, though their performance has improved slightly.   The NEA argues that teachers should receive more compensation for receiving a master’s degree even though many experts argue that there is no proof that it makes teachers perform any better.

“People who improve their skills should get paid more,” says Bill Raabe of the NEA “Wouldn’t you want that adult work with your children to be the best that money can but.  It’s a no brainer.”

Many experts argue that the system for evaluating teachers is broken.  Teachers can be evaluated by supervisors who know nothing about their subject. Another big problem, according to critics of teacher’s unions, is the idea that the last person hired should be the first person fired in the event of a layoff.   In a recent interview with National Public Radio, former DC District Superindent Michelle Rhee argued that this policy hurts younger teachers because it encourages districts to fire more of them to close budget deficits.  Moreover, Rhee and others say that it promotes seniority over merit.

A few schools are battling these trends by paying teachers six-figure salaries.

A New York City charter school earned headlines in 2008 for its plans to pay teachers $125,000 in exchange for working longer hours and assuming additional duties.  A voluntary program instituted in Washington, D.C.,  last year could raise total compensation for some teachers to $140,000   Some teachers in Wisconsin and Illinois are also reportedly as  handsomely compensated along with other states.  According to the NEA, about 1% of teachers are paid that well.

Though teachers’ unions and their political allies argue that educators are underpaid, fiscal conservatives argue that given the amount of work they do and the hefty benefits they receive,  that is not the case.   Frederick Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, says he is not against paying well.

“I don’t think that all teachers should earn six figures,” Hess says in an interview. “The best teachers should earn six figures and the worst teachers should be fired.”

While its tough to quantify the value of a good teacher,  Stanford University economist Eric Hanushek gave it try last year and concluded that a better-than average teacher “generates marginal gains of over $400,000 in present value of student future earnings …  Alternatively, replacing the bottom 5-8 percent of teachers with average teachers could move the U.S. near the top of international math and science rankings with a present value of $100 trillion.”

The problem that experts can not solve is how to attract and retain teachers who give both students and taxpayers the most bang for their buck.

Below are the list of the best and worst-paid teachers.  This list includes the QualityCounts grades.

Best Paid

10. Pennsylvania (B-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $60,536
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.83 (22nd)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 288.3 (13th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 270.7 (6th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 95.3% (11th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7.75% (7th)

Former Governor Ed Rendell increased education spending by $250 million, boosting education funding by $4.6 billion a year for programs such as full-day kindergarten, preschool and tutoring assistance over his two terms in office.  School districts in the state remain strapped for cash.  Arlene Ackerman, the Superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, plans to work without pay for 20 days this year, 10 more than she had previously planned.

9. Rhode Island ( C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $60,923
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.81 (20th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 277.92 (37th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 259.88 (36th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 85% (46th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7% (15th)

Rhode Island was in the headlines last year after officials decided to fire all the teachers and principals at a struggling high school.  The workers were later rehired after agreeing to a new evaluation system.  Officials in Providence recently warned that more teacher layoffs are looming.  In fact, the school board in Providence voted Friday to send out termination notices to the city’s 1,926 public school teachers as the city tries to close a $40 million budget deficit.

8. Alaska  (C-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $61,093
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 14.502 (26th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 283.04 (30th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 249.44 (39th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 89.1% (41st)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 5.93% (38th)

The head of the Alaska teacher’s union recently called for the state to increase spending on education.   Meanwhile, the Anchorage School District is proposing its most extensive cut in years, including layoffs to about 50 staff. Gov. Sean Parnell is undecided about whether to support legislation requiring school attendance from ages 6 to 18 instead of 7 and  16.

7. Illinois ( C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $63,005
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 14.504 (27th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 282.43 (32nd)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 264.51 (29th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 94.2% (21st)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 6.27% (32nd)

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn stressed fiscal restraint during his recent budget message and proposed cuts to education spending, though he is increasing some funding.  Cash-strapped school districts cut teaching and staff positions last year.  Students in Chicago lagged behind their peers in large urban districts in science, according to the Chicago Tribune.

6. Maryland ( B+)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $65,113
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.7 (17th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 288.43 (32nd)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 267.29 (14th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 99.1% (5th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7.26% (9th)

Only 1 in 2o fourth and eighth graders in Baltimore’s public schools was found to be proficient in science, according to the Baltimore Sun. Last year, officials in the Montgomery County district in the ritzy suburbs of Washington, D.C. decided to sell its curriculum to other school systems to help defray costs.  Student-teacher ratios in Prince George’s County are due to widen because of staff cuts.

5. Connecticut ( C+)
> Average Salary 2010/2011: $65,571
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13 (10th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 288.6 (10th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 271.81 (4th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 101.4% (4th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7.29% (8th)

Governor Daniel Malloy’s proposed budget maintained spending levels for primary and secondary education though colleges and university funding was slashed.   Hartford Superintendent  Steven Adamowski’s plans to overhaul teacher tenure was thwarted by an arbitration panel.  Layoffs loom in the New Haven district.

4. New Jersey ( B-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $66,985
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 11.8 (5th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 292.65 (5th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 272.8 (2nd)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 104.8% (2nd)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7.21% (11th)

Relations between New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the New Jersey Education Agency border on the toxic.   “Christie takes aim at your paycheck” is one of the kinder statements on the union’s website. Christie’s recently proposed budget includes a $250 million in additional funding for school, making up for the more than $800 million cut the previous year.

3. California ( C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $69,434
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 21 (49th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 270.44 (46th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 252.63 (49th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 97.5% (6th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 6.35% (31st)

The Sacramento Bee summed up the dire situation this way:  “More than 20,000 public school teachers in California have received pink slips during each of the last three years. The state’s ongoing economic and budget troubles mean that trend is likely to continue with upcoming March 15 layoff notices.” Teacher layoffs loom in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.

Memphis Superintendent Kriner Cash is moving on an “ambitious plan to begin six-day weeks for elementary school children, fast-track graduation options in high schools and the utilization of new technology,”  according to the Commercial Appeal. Gov. Phil Bredesen’s proposed budget includes a $47 million increase for public schools. Representative Debra Young Maggart, a Republican recently introduced a bill that would forbid  teachers’ unions from collective bargaining, a proposal which the New York Times says has left many teachers demoralized.

8. New Mexico (C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,950
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 14.94 (33rd)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 269.7 (48th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 254.12 (46th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 95.7% (9th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 5.92% (39th)

Gov. Susana Martinez believes that the $5.4 billion spending plan approved Friday by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee short changes education.. Last year, 24 school districts requested emergency financial help from the state.   A bill that would tie teacher evaluations to student performance is pending before the Legislature.

7. North Carolina ( C+)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,850
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 14.74 (31st)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 284.33 (25th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 259.52 (37th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 92.4% (32nd)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 6.45% (27th)

The financial picture for North Carolina schools is bleaker now than it was at the start of the recession because  federal stimulus money has dried up. That means budget cuts.  “Last week, Gov. Bev Perdue proposed a 3.9 percent reduction to public schools that spared cuts to classroom teachers and assistants, “ The Charlotte Observer says. “But it recommended trimming several thousand noninstructional positions, including administrators, office workers, janitors and bus drivers. ” Republicans who control the legislature are pushing for deeper cuts in education, the paper says.

6. Mississippi (C-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,818
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.8 (19th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 265 (50th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 251.3 (50th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 95.6% (10th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 4.85% (50th)

Gov. Haley Barbour recommended funding the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, or MAEP,  the state’s education funding formula, at the current level of just more than $2 billion, the Hattiesburg American says. Biloxi Superintendent recently warned of possible teacher layoffs. In fact, the Associated Press noted that most of Mississippi’s 152 school districts have lost personnel, including teachers, principals and assistant principals.

5. Florida (B-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,702
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 16 (38th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 279.33 (34th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 264.36 (30th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 94.5% (14th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 5.65% (44th)

Schools in Florida, who have slashed 12,000 jobs over the past 36 months, are worried that more layoffs would be needed under Gov. Rick Scott’s spending plan. If Scott’s proposal were to pass, that would mean that the Miami-Dade School District would need to cut $150 million and lay off some workers. The Florida Education Association has vowed to fight a bill in the Legislature that would tie all teacher pay to test scores because a “proven evaluation” system is not in place.

4. Utah  ( C-)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,571
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 22.3 (50th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 284.06 (28th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 265.59 (23rd)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 75.5% (50th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 5.23% (49th)

Legislators are considering a bill that would forbid school districts from employing a “last hired, first fired” approach toward layoffs. Gov. Gary Hebert has criticized lawmakers for cutting his proposed spending deeply. “A report by two Georgetown researchers indicated that 66 percent of all jobs in Utah — approximately 1 million — will require some post-secondary training or education beyond high school in 2018,” according to the Desert News.

3. Missouri ( C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $46,411
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.2 (11th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 285.8 (22nd)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 266.87 (17th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 92.6% (30th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 6.99% (16th)

Though state funding is remaining even, schools are losing ground because costs are beginning to rise, according to the Missouri School Boards’ Association. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Howell Board Member Cynthia Bice as saying “”This is like asking me which of my children are my favorite” when discussing possible layoffs.  Kelvin Adams recently was awarded a three-year contract extension as superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools.  Standardized test scores rose under his leadership.

2. North Dakota (C)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $44,266
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 11.9 (6th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 292.84 (4th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 269.24 (10th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 92.6% (31st)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 7.19% (12th)

North Dakota legislators have proposed overhauling the state’s education system that would create a Department of Education starting Jan. 1, 2015, to oversee all aspects of public education.  Proposed federal spending cuts would slash the budget of the Bismark School District by $6 million.  Minot officials are also warning of cuts.

1. South Dakota  (D+)

> Average Salary 2010/2011: $35,201
> # of Enrolled Students Per Teacher 2010/2011: 13.4 (14th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Math Score 2009: 290.61 (8th)
> Average National Assessment of Educational Progress Reading Score 2009: 270.06 (8th)
> Average Daily Attendance as a % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 94.3% (20th)
> High School Graduation Rate as % of Fall Enrollment 2010/2011: 6.60% (24th)

Members of the South Dakota Senate are balking at Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s proposed 10% cut in education spending, a move that the South Dakota Education Association says would “devastate” public schools.  “When you talk about a 10 percent cut in education, at this stage in the game in Rapid City, South Dakota, it is in some form or fashion affecting students,” Rapid City Board Director Dave Janak tells the Rapid City Journal. During his recent campaign Daugaard vowed to strengthen math and science education.

– Jonathan Berr

Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to a plan by city officials to close schools in Kansas City, Kansas. In fact, this occurred in Kansas City, Missouri.