On March 6, 1984, Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander signed into law the Comprehensive Education Reform Act, which its supporters have called the nation's most ambitious statewide teacher career-ladder and incentive-pay program. In its final version, the legislature set up a five-step career ladder with annual salary incentives ranging from $500 to $7,000 for Tennessee's 46,000 teachers. The program promotes staff development among teachers and rewards with substantial pay supplements those teachers who are evaluated as outstanding and who accept additional responsibilities. The five steps of the career-ladder are: (1) probationary teachers; (2) apprentice teachers; (3) career level I teachers; (4) career level II teachers; and (5) career level III teachers. Current teachers have the option of entering the career ladder or staying under the present system, with its 10-year recertification procedures. New teachers will be required to enter the career-teacher program. Program implementation and teacher certification and evaluation under this program are discussed as is the Tennessee Education Association's involvement with it. (JMK)