Noting the idea is conceptual, Stephenson said teachers would have to display a proven track record to be eligible for signing bonuses at a more challenging school. Teachers raising student test scores might get extra pay for students who surpass a year's worth of growth on test scores.

He said offering more money to teach in a challenging school has raised student achievement in a San Juan elementary.

"What we'll see from this, we hope, is competition to get into (more challenging) schools," Stephenson said. "It will require additional funding . . . as a taxpayer advocate, that's hard to swallow."

Stephenson said the Governor's Working Group on Student Achievement, of which he is a member, has discussed such pay options but not a funding source. The group has yet to solidify its recommendations.

Stephenson said the economy could bring in enough new money for the proposals, if they were to come before the 2006 Legislature.

Or, he said, lawmakers could agree to ask voters if they want to reduce homeowners' property tax exemption, perhaps by 10 percent, to increase student achievement.

Homeowners are taxed on 55 percent of the value of their primary residences. That means 45 percent of the home value is exempt from tax. That's the number Stephenson is talking about.

State Board of education chairman Kim Burningham says he has long advocated paying teachers who take difficult assignments more money. He said paying everyone equally encourages people to take easier jobs.

The Utah Education Association has been supportive of signing bonuses for special education teachers, said Vik Arnold, government relations and political action director.

"I think the key is to provide incentives to attract good teachers in general," he said. "We've long advocated increasing the minimum basic property tax levy for education, and we continue to support that. We'd have to see, to better understand, the details of raising additional funds by simply reducing the exemption on homeowners."

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