Teacher Merit Pay Needs More Focus
Wide Eyed in Wonder
link...
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/24/Hillsborough/Hillsborough_s_merit_.shtml
...shows that there are some realities that need to be considered in
designing a merit pay system. If based on equal standards, the system
can benefit richer schools, in contrast to the intent of the whole
program (to raise the teaching standards and scores of low performing
schools...often in poor communities).
A few realities...some from the article and some on my own...
1. Those in poor communities have parents that are distracted by
second jobs. Also, those parents may not be educated enough to help
the students with their homework, as with richer communities.
2. Those in poor communities can be (and in the community of the
article ARE) communities with a lot of students of other languages.
If the students are just learning basic skills (like English), it
would be hard to inspire them to raise their scores to match other
communities.
3. Students in poor communities (often older kids) may feel they are
doomed to live in their community and without options. If the school
cannot change this perception, they may not want to work hard...no
matter the incentives.
4. Teachers in poor communities may have less resources than other
schools to deal with student disability issues or such.
So, these are just a few reasons why this system needs work. I have a
few suggestions, though none are perfect and have flaws...
A. My first suggestion is to make the standard of measurement (for
teacher pay, only) NOT the FCAT but a localized exam.
B. Another thought is that, since the goal is to help low performing
schools, to designate a bulk of the merit pay ONLY for low income
schools (I'd say at least 50 percent), to be distributed to the best
among this group.
C. Also, I'm not sure if this school district is using a set score
for the students to reach or a set growth over prior years. I'd say
it should be percentage of growth in scores, since the realities of
the community make reaching the average scores difficult.
Again, there are problems with all of my suggestions, but they are the
best I have. Anyone else have an idea?
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
Rowley
going to comment.....
Martin
stevericks
where they start score wise to where they go.
One problem that many states face with this type of measurement is the
inability to track scores down to individual teachers and students. Our
state is just now beginning to be able to do this. Hopefully this will
allow a number of the research studies to be better designed.
What is the FCAT? When you say localized exam, do you mean a standardized
test?
Steve
"Wide Eyed in Wonder" <kan...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:68df7764-4219-4e4b...@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
Wide Eyed in Wonder
> After the "Teaching Kids to Save Money" thread - there is no way I'm
> going to comment.....
>
> Martin
>
> Wide Eyed in Wonder wrote:
>
> > I am, generally, a supporter of the merit pay idea. However, this
> > link...
>
Thank you for commenting to say that you will not comment.
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com
Wide Eyed in Wonder
I see some merits, I don't think it serves as a good gauge for teacher
performance pay.
On Feb 25, 9:04 pm, "stevericks" <steveri...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Very nice ideas. I like them, especially looking at using progress from
> where they start score wise to where they go.
>
> One problem that many states face with this type of measurement is the
> inability to track scores down to individual teachers and students. Our
> state is just now beginning to be able to do this. Hopefully this will
> allow a number of the research studies to be better designed.
>
> What is the FCAT? When you say localized exam, do you mean a standardized
> test?
>
> Steve
>
> "Wide Eyed in Wonder" <kand...@hotmail.com> wrote in messagenews:68df7764-4219-4e4b...@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>
> >I am, generally, a supporter of the merit pay idea. However, this
> > link...
>
> >http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/24/Hillsborough/Hillsborough_s_merit_....
Kenneth Clifton
christiansuperhero.com