Tennessee School Teachers Payment Unconstitutional

Nashville – The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that the current system for paying public school teachers violates the state's constitution. In a unanimous decision, the court said the method denies equal educational opportunitites to volunteer state students. The ruling says the state isn't adequately helping rural school systems pay their teachers a competitive salary.

Yesterday's decision casts aside a seven year old salary equity plan adopted by the legislature. The court says Tennessee's teacher salary system is unfair because it doesn't take into consideration the actual cost of hiring a teacher, and doesn't allow for an annual review of the cost.