RE: Question 1: Attracting and Retaining Teachers

     Some of the factors for attracting and retaining teachers are easy - pay scale, loan repayment incentives for low income schools etc.  are both easy and already in place.  Programs like BTSA strengthen our retention by formalizing the mentoring process so that we are assured no new teacher is left to fend for themselves in what is often a tightrope-walking profession.  I think from a high school perspective, providing time for professional development...where we don't have to leave our classes with substitute teachers is a paramount consideration.  With so many focuses currently, many classroom teachers are out of the classroom at least twice a month for standards training, professional programs like BTSA or school leadership like WASC preperation or IIUSP work.  The demands on a pubic school teachers time are horrendous...and often uncompensated.

     In answer to the underperforming school question, many other factors such as geographic location are also a huge determining factor.  We are an underperforming school, but with our location (close to CSU Chico) we have very little trouble filling openings.  I understand this is not the case in LA, or Oakland.  I think perhaps the issue of recruitment needs to be examined on more individual challenges, rather than statewide mandates.

     I think the state has been instrumental in encouraging students to choose teaching through raising first year teacher salaries, and some of the expense relief programs such as the teacher tax credit...(Thanks!) and I'm not sure what else they can do besides provide financial incentive.