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measure, SDEA communications director Sandra Waltman said.
• "This is another step in taking this conversation to the voters to talk about what our kids need in education," Waltman said. "Ultimately, we're concerned this is going to create a big bureaucracy, and we're not sure it's really going to benefit kids."
• Tony Venhuizen, Daugaard's communications director, said the governor will continue to tell voters why the measure will improve the quality of education in South Dakota's schools.
• "The governor proposed the bill because he thinks it advances student achievement through great teaching. I'm sure he'll continue to explain his reasoning for proposing the bill," Venhuizen said.
• The measure includes the governor's original plan to give $5,000 annual bonuses beginning in the 2014-2015 school year to the top 20 percent of teachers in each school district, based on a new evaluation system and measurements of student progress. But school districts could create their own teacher reward plans or not take part at all.
• The bill also would start a scholarship program in the 2013-2014 school year that would choose up to 100 college students a year to receive help with tuition and fees if they pursue teaching degrees in critically needed subjects. They would have to agree to teach such a subject for at least five years in a South Dakota school.
• In addition, the measure would give $2,500 annual rewards to math and science teachers beginning in 2014.
• Tenure in state law would be eliminated in July 2016 for any teachers not already
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