Merit-based pay initiatives are under way in several U.S. school districts.
HOUSTON, TEX. (Started 2005)
The Cash Teachers can receive up to $11,000 in bonuses. In the past year, education staff together earned $40-million in performance pay.
The Criteria Schools are ranked based on results of standardized testing - teachers in the top 25 per cent of schools earn $1,000. Individual teachers also receive merit pay for student improvement based on the tests, a value-added assessment designed to account for classroom differences. Bonuses are based on a sliding scale and on grade levels, with the top 25 per cent of ranked teachers earning $5,000. Teachers can get extra money for high reading and math scores.
The Response Teachers have called the system "a lottery" that doesn't clearly identify how they can earn the merit pay, and say it hasn't altered their behaviour. However, test scores have improved overall by 10 per cent in the years since the program was implemented.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLA. (Started 2007)
The Cash Top-performing teachers receive bonuses totalling 5 per cent of their salary (funds permitting).
The Criteria Teachers receive scores based on classroom evaluations and student gains and/or declines in test scores.
The Response The program was heavily criticized because teachers from affluent schools were far more likely to get bonuses. The county recently received $100-million from the Gates Foundation, and plans to hire a team of mentors and peer evaluators to monitor teachers.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. (Started 2006)
The Cash Teachers receive permanent pay increases of $1,000 for "professional growth credits."
The Criteria Teachers who choose to participate can earn credits many ways - for instance, by taking courses, teaching in hard-to-staff schools, taking on special responsibilities, or improving student achievement. They also earn credits based on overall school achievement.
The Response The program is unique because the incentives are pay hikes rather than one-time bonuses, though it has been criticized for playing down student achievement because the criteria are so broad. Test scores have improved in some schools, but the city still has relatively low graduation rates, and the gap between low- and middle-income schools remains large.
Erin Anderssen