They Just Quietly Erased Federal Education. Why?
- Ish Allamerican
- Jul 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Jul 19
Erased Federal Education
My Prevailing Issue
Education Reform: Real Respect for Teachers
Out of all the pressing challenges facing America today, none cut deeper or have more far-reaching consequences than the decline of our public education system. At the heart of this crisis is a blatant disregard for the very professionals we entrust with our children’s and country’s futures—teachers. Despite being among the most educated members of our workforce, teachers are systematically underpaid, undervalued, and overworked. We champion innovation, economic growth, and global competitiveness, yet fail to recognize that none of it is possible without a strong, well-compensated, and respected teaching force.
For the country, this is not just an education issue—it’s a national economic emergency. Quality education drives GDP, reduces crime, elevates communities, and secures the future labor force. Countries that invest in their educators thrive; those that don’t, fall behind. The United States is dangerously close to the latter. This piece lays out the facts, exposes the political disparities in teacher pay, and proposes bold, necessary reforms—including raising starting salaries to $80,000–$100,000 and tying compensation to performance and student outcomes. It’s time to stop treating teachers as a budget line item and start viewing them as the strategic investment they truly are.
Compared to many of its global peers, the United States ranks in the middle or below average in key education outcomes, despite spending more per student than most developed nations. According to the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which evaluates 15-year-olds across nearly 80 countries, the U.S. ranked 31st in math, 13th in reading, and 18th in science. These results highlight a troubling gap, particularly in math, where American students significantly underperform relative to the global average. In contrast, countries like Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Finland, and Estonia consistently lead the rankings due to strong teacher training programs, national investments in education, and equitable funding models.
A major differentiator among top-performing nations is how they value their educators. Countries that dominate the PISA rankings tend to pay teachers more, offer rigorous training, and provide structured career paths with built-in professional growth. In the U.S., teacher pay remains inconsistent, largely dependent on local property taxes, which widens the equity gap between affluent and under-resourced districts. While the U.S. may lead in overall education spending, much of that investment is inefficiently allocated, and it fails to translate into improved outcomes. If the U.S. wants to rise in the global rankings and ensure long-term national competitiveness, prioritizing teacher compensation, classroom resources, and structural equity is not just necessary—it’s urgent.
Top-performing countries in education—like Finland, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Estonia—treat teaching as a high-status, well-supported profession. Their strategies for recruiting, retaining, and rewarding teachers are intentional and systemic. In countries like Finland and Singapore, becoming a teacher is as prestigious as becoming a doctor or lawyer. Entry into teacher preparation programs is highly competitive, often limited to the top 10–30% of graduating students. These nations invest heavily in teacher education, typically requiring master’s degrees and extensive hands-on training before entering the classroom. Once hired, teachers benefit from mentorship programs, ongoing professional development, and collaborative work environments that treat them as experts, not expendable labor. This approach builds a strong sense of professionalism and pride in the field.
Retention is reinforced through competitive salaries, strong work-life balance, and clear career pathways. In South Korea and Japan, for example, teachers are paid on par with engineers and receive regular promotions based on merit and experience. Singapore uses structured career ladders that allow teachers to advance as specialists, master teachers, or even policy contributors without leaving the classroom. Across these countries, teacher evaluations are growth-focused, not punitive, and performance is tied to incentives, not job insecurity. By offering respect, resources, and real upward mobility, these nations build loyal, highly skilled teaching forces that drive their world-class education systems.
The Problem: We Underpay and Undervalue Educators
Teachers are among the most educated professionals in the workforce. They hold degrees, certifications, and continually complete ongoing training, all while serving as the backbone of our nation’s future. Yet in nearly every state, teacher pay falls far below what is expected for their level of education and impact.
Consider this:
The average starting salary for teachers in the United States is often below $45,000, with some states starting under $40,000.
Even the average teacher salary nationwide, while more respectable, still hovers well below wages in industries with similar degree requirements and responsibilities.
Compare this to what we should be doing: starting teachers at $80,000 to $100,000 a year. Why? Because quality education is directly tied to national economic health.
The Impact of Education on the GDP
Failing to invest in education is not just a moral issue—it’s a direct economic threat. Here's how:
Literacy and Workforce Readiness: A well-educated workforce is more productive, more innovative, and better equipped to adapt to economic shifts. Poorly educated populations lead to lower employment, lower productivity, and higher reliance on social programs.
Higher Earnings, Higher Taxes: Educated individuals earn more and pay more in taxes. Boosting teacher quality through better compensation improves student outcomes, which in turn lifts lifetime earnings and contributes to economic growth.
Reduced Crime, Welfare Dependency: Strong education correlates with lower crime rates and reduced dependency on public assistance, saving governments billions.
Global Competitiveness: The countries dominating global innovation—South Korea, Finland, Singapore—invest heavily in teacher pay and training. If the U.S. doesn't match that investment, we lose our competitive edge.
The OECD has found that even a modest improvement in average student achievement can boost a country’s GDP by trillions over the long run. We ignore these facts at our peril. Interesting enough, ultimately, how states compare by political party when it comes to teacher pay:
Political Affiliation | Average Starting Salary | Average Salary |
Democratic States | $62,259 | $69,732 |
Republican States | $42,209 | $57,879 |
A Key Insight: On average, Democratic-led states pay teachers nearly $20,000 more to start, and over $11,000 more overall, compared to Republican-led states. This reflects broader policy priorities around education funding and public sector investment. In some states, teachers start below the national minimum for a living wage, especially after factoring in student loan debt, out-of-pocket classroom expenses, and inflation. This is absolutely SICKENING!
The Solution: Pay Teachers What They're Worth
If we want better schools, we need to pay for them. That means:
Raising starting salaries for teachers to $80K–$100K, particularly in middle and high schools where students’ potential ignites and catches fire.
Creating incentive structures for performance, longevity, and hard-to-staff schools.
Providing full benefits and pension protections so that teaching is a sustainable career.
Free state tuition payment in exchange for eight years of dedicated service, you have to have skin in the game.
First time home buying incentives and free quality healthcare.
Bonus and incentive structures for top performing teachers.
Up pay for inner city and rural locations by 30% to ensure equitable opportunity.
A New Generation: Reimagining Accountability Beyond Unions
I have to admit, I’m not a fan of teacher unions—not because I don’t value teachers, but because I believe the current structure of these unions has compromised the quality and urgency of education reform.
As a business owner, I come from a world driven by performance, innovation, and accountability. In business, when people feel too safe—when there’s no pressure to improve or compete—they often become complacent. That same mindset has quietly infiltrated parts of our education system, and I believe teacher unions have played a role in enabling it.
Let’s be clear: I’m not attacking teachers. I’m calling for a new generation of educators—those who see teaching not as just a job, but as a calling to push the mental capacity of students, challenge outdated systems, and create thinkers, builders, and doers for the 21st century.
But we can't get there if we continue to protect mediocrity. Too often, teacher unions act as shields for underperforming educators, making it nearly impossible to remove ineffective teachers or reward excellence. Instead of raising the bar, the system holds everyone at the same level—regardless of effort, impact, or innovation.
A New Path Forward
What I’m proposing isn’t anti-teacher—it's pro-student.
Raise salaries significantly—starting at $80K–$100K for teachers—but tie it to clear expectations, continued development, and student growth.
Eliminate tenure as a blanket shield. Replace it with multi-year performance-based contracts that protect great teachers and hold others accountable.
Build a career ladder for teachers with pathways to master teacher status, higher pay, and leadership roles within schools—just like other professions.
Education shouldn’t be a comfort zone. It should be a launch pad.
The Bottom Line
We need teachers who want to compete with themselves to get better each year, not hide behind bureaucracy. We need a system that rewards greatness, weeds out underperformance, and reignites the passion and prestige of the profession. This isn’t about dismantling worker protections—it’s about making sure students win first.
Let’s stop settling for safe. Let’s start building brilliant.
This isn't just good policy—it’s smart economics. Without immediate, bold reforms to elevate our education system and respect the professionals within it, we are sentencing future generations to an America that is less literate, less competitive, and economically unstable. Education reform isn’t optional—it’s a national security, economic, and moral imperative. Let’s start treating it that way. Let’s start with teachers.
$140.2 billion is the price tag.
Raising the average salary of every public-school teacher in the U.S. to $100,000 would cost approximately $140.2 billion annually, a bold but transformative investment. Phased in over five years through raises, performance incentives, and recruitment efforts, this plan is designed to improve teacher retention, elevate student outcomes, and strengthen the future workforce. Education spending consistently offers one of the highest returns on investment in GDP terms. Research from the OECD, Brookings, and McKinsey suggests that modest gains in student achievement can significantly boost national productivity. For instance, a 0.5% annual GDP increase—driven by better education outcomes—would equate to $140 billion per year, effectively covering the plan’s cost by year five and generating net positive returns in subsequent years.
Beyond economic returns, this policy could positively affect national debt and social spending. As GDP grows, the debt-to-GDP ratio improves, enhancing national creditworthiness and increasing tax revenue organically without raising rates. Better education leads to fewer poverty-related burdens on the system, such as welfare, incarceration, and healthcare. A phased timeline shows foundational impact in years 1–2, visible local economic benefits by years 3–5, and major national gains by years 6–20, including up to $3 trillion in added GDP. This initiative is not merely an education reform—it is a strategic move to reshape America’s long-term economic trajectory. By question, why wouldn’t politicians want to see a more educated and innovative US Citizens.
Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments—because silence isn’t the strategy we need anymore.
Teacher Salary By State
State | Starting Salary ($) | Average Salary ($) |
Alabama | $ 42,070.00 | $ 54,044.00 |
Alaska | $ 48,236.00 | $ 75,814.00 |
Arizona | $ 43,250.00 | $ 54,475.00 |
Arkansas | $ 38,995.00 | $ 52,685.00 |
California | $ 51,312.00 | $ 88,707.00 |
Colorado | $ 42,547.00 | $ 60,752.00 |
Connecticut | $ 49,665.00 | $ 81,858.00 |
Delaware | $ 45,267.00 | $ 63,721.00 |
Florida | $ 41,429.00 | $ 52,368.00 |
Georgia | $ 43,717.00 | $ 62,421.00 |
Hawaii | $ 49,432.00 | $ 68,959.00 |
Idaho | $ 40,878.00 | $ 54,769.00 |
Illinois | $ 43,447.00 | $ 74,026.00 |
Indiana | $ 41,210.00 | $ 58,938.00 |
Iowa | $ 42,801.00 | $ 60,566.00 |
Kansas | $ 42,506.00 | $ 56,771.00 |
Kentucky | $ 40,828.00 | $ 55,300.00 |
Louisiana | $ 40,721.00 | $ 54,220.00 |
Maine | $ 40,320.00 | $ 58,732.00 |
Maryland | $ 48,096.00 | $ 74,706.00 |
Massachusetts | $ 50,937.00 | $ 86,962.00 |
Michigan | $ 42,342.00 | $ 63,539.00 |
Minnesota | $ 43,200.00 | $ 65,690.00 |
Mississippi | $ 37,925.00 | $ 49,086.00 |
Missouri | $ 40,220.00 | $ 53,794.00 |
Montana | $ 39,927.00 | $ 54,974.00 |
Nebraska | $ 41,867.00 | $ 57,765.00 |
Nevada | $ 45,719.00 | $ 62,735.00 |
New Hampshire | $ 41,700.00 | $ 62,100.00 |
New Jersey | $ 52,441.00 | $ 78,941.00 |
New Mexico | $ 41,920.00 | $ 54,122.00 |
New York | $ 52,125.00 | $ 92,222.00 |
North Carolina | $ 403,470.00 | $ 53,352.00 |
North Dakota | $ 44,200.00 | $ 57,076.00 |
Ohio | $ 42,651.00 | $ 64,302.00 |
Oklahoma | $ 38,415.00 | $ 54,194.00 |
Oregon | $ 46,339.00 | $ 73,960.00 |
Pennsylvania | $ 45,785.00 | $ 74,145.00 |
Rhode Island | $ 45,713.00 | $ 74,979.00 |
South Carolina | $ 41,320.00 | $ 54,171.00 |
South Dakota | $ 40,610.00 | $ 50,872.00 |
Tennessee | $ 40,700.00 | $ 54,745.00 |
Texas | $ 44,880.00 | $ 57,900.00 |
Utah | $ 43,912.00 | $ 57,119.00 |
Vermont | $ 43,160.00 | $ 60,084.00 |
Virginia | $ 43,735.00 | $ 61,641.00 |
Washington | $ 48,756.00 | $ 78,183.00 |
West Virginia | $ 41,174.00 | $ 53,655.00 |
Wisconsin | $ 43,870.00 | $ 62,985.00 |
Wyoming | $ 45,800.00 | $ 65,591.00 |
Federal Education
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