COLTON, Calif. (AP) - Democrat John Kerry says if elected president he would hold America's teachers to higher standards and give them higher salaries as a reward.
On the final stop of his three-day education tour Thursday, Kerry is calling for tougher teacher testing and financial rewards up to $5,000 for teachers and up to $100,000 for schools who boost student achievement or make other improvements.

"Its time for a new bargain with America's teachers and children - I will offer teachers more, and I will ask for more in return," Kerry said in a campaign statement.

Kerry's goal is to recruit or retain 500,000 teachers during his first term in the White House. He would give a minimum bonus of $5,000 for teachers who choose to work in high-need schools and subjects like math and science. He also would give college students who commit to teaching in those areas help paying their tuition.

Kerry's campaign said his plan for teacher quality would cost $30 billion over 10 years and would be drawn from his $200 billion education trust fund. Money for the fund would come from repealing President Bush's tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year.