A leading Republican voice for education reform says she welcomes a state panel's endorsement of performance incentives for schoolteachers--a policy initiative she fought for in the last legislative session and will champion again in 2008.

Assistant Senate GOP leader Nancy Spence, the ranking Republican on the Senate Education Committee, will introduce a bill that would help fund efforts by local school districts to reward teachers who excel in the classroom. The bill--similar to one Spence introduced last session that is based on Florida's prominent STAR program--is part of the Republican education agenda for 2008.

Now, the governor's P-20 Education Coordinating Council seems to like the idea, too. The panel released a list of recommendations this week that included a proposal much like Spence's plan, establishing a state fund to help local school districts set up alternative forms of teacher compensation.

"It is great to have them on board," said Spence, of Centennial.