The Legislature recognizes that the classroom is the center of teaching reward and satisfaction. However, the Legislature finds that many potentially effective teachers leave the teaching profession because it does not offer them support, assistance, recognition, and career opportunities that they need.
It is the intent of the Legislature in the enactment of this article to encourage teachers currently employed in the public school system to continue to pursue excellence within their profession, to provide incentives to teachers of demonstrated ability and expertise to remain in the public school system, and to restore the teaching profession to its position of primary importance within the structure of the state educational system.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1302, Sec. 12.)