NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The state Department of Education has rolled out a new package of incentives to help bring the best teachers to Tennessee's worst schools.

Beginning Wednesday the department is offering to pay $7,000 signing bonuses to every new top-rated teacher who agrees to teach for at least two years in the some of the worst-performing schools in the state. In addition, state officials will provide money to school districts to pay retention bonuses to every top-rated teacher who decides to stay at a priority school for the 2013-2014 school year.

Priority schools are the schools that perform in the bottom 5 percent in the state in terms of academic achievement. They are located in Memphis, as well as Davidson, Hamilton, Hardeman and Knox counties.