CARSON CITY -- An analyst for the National Conference of State Legislatures said Thursday there is no evidence that paying public school teachers more money will lead to better performance by students.

"Many of us have made the assumption there has to be a correlation, but there is no research to support that better paid teachers bring better student performance," said David Shreve, invited to address the first meeting of the interim legislative committee studying school financing adequacy.

His remarks prompted quick responses from Teresa Jordan, an education funding professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Al Bellister, a lobbyist for the Nevada State Education Association.

Jordan said there is a "weak correlation" between teacher pay and improved student performance. But she said that is because teachers' pay in Nevada is based on their level of education and years of teaching experience.

However, Jordan said, research shows if pay increases are based on other factors -- on which she did not elaborate -- then students will perform better.

She encouraged committee members to look at that research over the next 10 months as they complete their study.

In an interview, Bellister said, "You have to look at what you pay for."

He said national certified teachers are paid 5 percent more than other teachers, and students in their classrooms do perform better.

Shreve said he has been working on education matters for the NCSL since 1987. In his position, he offers objective, nonpolitical analyses to state lawmakers.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said there comes a point when additional teacher pay does not make a difference, "but if you pay so low, you aren't going to attract quality people."

State Sen. Bob Beers, R-Las Vegas, said the problem of children not learning is caused by administrators "beating the idealism out of teachers."

"Until we stop that, we aren't going to improve the school performance for kids," said Beers, who is a candidate for governor. "A very discouraged, cynical teacher who is paid more is still a very discouraged, cynical teacher."

The committee intends to spend up to $225,000 hiring a consulting firm to study the adequacy of school funding in Nevada.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, wants to hire the firm in January and direct it to complete its study by August.

The legislative committee then would make recommendations for consideration by the 2007 Legislature.

Shreve told the committee that Nevada ranked 46th in 2002 with per pupil funding of $6,304, compared with a national average of $7,500.

But Beers said another study, which counted expenditures for school construction, showed Nevada's per pupil spending was $7,378.

Shreve said school spending has been increased in eight other states that conducted adequacy studies.

He also said average teacher pay today is about $42,000 a year. That figure is virtually identical with teacher pay in 1969, when corrections are made for inflation.

What has increased dramatically over the last 30 years is the number of administrators employed by school districts, according to Shreve. In 1969, there were 50 staff members per 1,000 students, Shreve said. Today there are 78.

State Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, said people are passing on teaching careers "because they can make more money doing something else."