Gov. Bush Aims To Keep Teachers

By Jessica L. Sandham

The State of the States Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida asked the legislature to approve initiatives designed to recruit and retain teachers in his State of the State address last week. The state's growing teacher shortage, he warned, threatens to undermine recent academic gains.

In the March 6 speech, the governor touted his package of 20 initiatives designed to keep current teachers in the classroom and attract new people to the profession. Mr. Bush's plan includes a $50 million program to offer $1,000 "signing bonuses" to new teachers, a $50 million fund to enhance districts' efforts to retain teachers, and a proposal to accelerate the timetable for starting a program with alternative routes to teacher certification.

In all, the governor is proposing to spend $169...