thank you all for coming and we hope you'll join us on april 26 our next briefing in the series in which we would get into some of the in depth issues about prescription drug pricing and affordability and innovation. before we close, if you have been, just illegibly evaluation form for our own quality data purposes, we would appreciate it. dr. fauci.k you, >> you're welcome. thanks a lot. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]

coming up in about five minutes on c-span2 at heritage foundation discussion on switzerland's that break which requires budget surpluses during economic expansions. at a scheduled start noon eastern life here on c-span2. until then some of this mornings "washington journal." >> our first guest of the morning madeleine with education week purchase was a supporter, we are here to talk about teacher pay salaries, pensions and benefits. good morning. those topics are point out in these rallies that were sitting across the united states. could you gemmama talk about the rally, what are the concerns of the future? >> teachers and in oklahoma, aa and kentucky are all rising up and protesting after the successful strike in west virginia. west virginia teachers got a 5% pay raise after they went on strike for nine days, and teachers everywhere that maybe we could do that. soth oklahoma teachers are on te third day of the walkout. they are fighting for increase

in education funding andth highr salaries the oak lumber cover has to the concern. what can she do and why still hasn't not satisfied these teachers? >> guest: last week the legislator passed a a $6000 pay raise for teachers. they asked for $10,000, and 209 in nine in education funding. they are saying it's not enough. we need more. the governor is a width of the budget priorities that we need to focus on. >> host: is that the responsible governments when these claims or lease these calls or pay come up with teachers? >> guest: the arizona governor said they're asking for 20% pay raise and theg governor said is not realistic. legislators and governors are trying to balance a lot of different priorities but teachers are saying it's our time. >> host: that just said, the conversation will have about teacher pay andy the benefits they receive in some other things. our guest will be with us if you want to ask your questions, special line today.

generally when it comes to teacher pay, how is that determined by localities and schools? >> guest: the school district have salary schedule and debbie teacher in the district gets paid days off of the schedule. take it raises when they are in use of expense, races when different different levels of education, master degree, doctorate degree, those get paid more. and it's really determined by the state can set a minimum but richard district typically pay their teachers more time we are showing a chart of the average about $50,000 is average pay for a schoolteacher. go to places like new york it's high as 79,000. places like mississippiow it's $42,000. that depends on the tax base. are there other factors that go into thates scale? >> guest: it depends on the state.

legislators invest in education, counseling. individual districts pay more. >> host: how much does it make a difference if a place for school is considered rich or poor, howow much is a fact it io a base salary for a teacher? >> guest: you will see world district, teachers get paid less than if they're in suburban districts. if a district has more in the budget for property taxes typically want to put the money into the teacher salaries. >> host: if you started a base than what determines if you get raises? >> guest: your years of experience and education levels. as teachers typically peak around the top salary level around age 55, if they get higher education in terms of masters, a doctorate, just take a more professional development courses they can also get raises that would turnan with some of these things are described as step increases. is that what you're talking about? >> guest: s that's it.

step increases are based on use of expense. lane is education. >> host: when it comes to determined that, how does a teacher get graded so to speak and how much they -- especially year-by-year? is a standard raise, of the things that factor into whether a teacher gets more or less traffic it's a pretty standard across the district. a teacher get go into the bosses office is ahe book about a great view i want a raise. it's what the schedule says. >> host: again will be talking more about this idea teacher pay and what goes into that. we invite you to call us. the lights are set for those of you who are teachers, to give us your thoughts and those of you who live in certain areas around the country. from florida let's start with alvin, you're on with our guest madeline will. good morning. go ahead. >> caller:rn yes, i'm a teacher in florida. those steps that you're talking about, in florida we haven't had a step in ten years.

the steps are not going, and we can't strike in florida because believe me, if we could we would but they sign a long way back when that florida teachers cannot strike. most teachers are living in poverty. those steps have been stagnant for years. .. ice t said, teachers should be paid just like lawyers and doctors because we take care of kids. look at the future. we have a president like donald trump. -- we are teaching -- we are not really teaching. guest: >> guest: ya, so the oklahoma -- >> you can see the rest of this "washington journal" segment on our website, c-span.org. we take you live now to the heritage foundation for discussion