Some Teachers Say Merit Pay Plan Is a Bitter Apple [FL E-Comp Plan]

The Ledger ^ | March 15, 2006 | Julia Crouse

[summer]

WINTER HAVEN -- The modern reality of teaching in Florida schools makes Bess Lott, a 32-year veteran, wonder whether she'd choose teaching as a career if she had it to do over.

Constant paperwork, comparatively low pay and FCAT pressure are all headaches, said the third-grade teacher at Winter Haven's Snively Elementary School of Choice.

But e-comp, the Department of Education's performance pay proposal, is the final straw, she said.

"They're talking about our salaries," she said....

[summer]

The typical education system pay scheme rewards experience and/or education level with higher pay. How exasperating for the state to think about rewarding teachers for better teaching!

I have often wondered what the impact would be on the teaching profession if ALL teachers, nationwide, were paid $X dollars, regardless of number of years or education level. Then, for every evidenced improved student, or every documented extra task the teacher did, the teacher could earn more money up to $Z dollars. But, if not, then the teacher remains at $X dollars, even if 10 years goes by.

I am guessing this would almost eliminate the need for collective bargaining, but, when you think about it -- this is, in fact, how many other professions operate. You can start and stay at $X dollars, or, you can take it upon yourself to earn more.

Teaching does not really enable that right now for the most part. it almost seems too "masculine" a concept for teaching, which remains a mostly "feminine" profession.

And, it is very frustrating to remain so "low" on the salary scale if you're a very good new teacher bu you don't have 50 years in the system yet. You might as well leave if you can't help but equate a higher pay with your own ability.

[busstopsindetroit]

I agree, pay should not be based on highest test scores. We would have an even more difficult time than we already do finding good teachers willing to teach the students who need them the most.

I wouldn't mind rewarding teachers for improving their individual performance-perhaps a bonus for the ones who are able to lift test scores by the highest percentage, rather than just flat out highest test scores. That way the teachers in the tough neighborhoods who probably have the most challenging positions will be on a more level playing field with those who have it a bit easier.

[summer]

Re your post #37 - LOL...now, what about those making TOO much on the public payroll? I can think of LOTS of local public "servants" in this town earning WELL OVER the salary of the governor of this state! And, BTW, some university presidents now earn in excess of $500K. I mean, is that amount of money REALLY necessary for a person who doesn't even teach any students at a university??

[busstopsindetroit]

" see no problem with Florida's merit pay plan. They want to use a child's test score from the previous year and compare it to the same child's current test score. There is a base line staring point." Then I don't have a problem with it either. How shocking that the article doesn't make that clear. Obviously if a kid or a group of kids' test scores drop from one year to the next the teacher is not doing a good job. If they go up she is, and if they go up more than any other class does she's doing a great job. And I don't have a problem with rewarding anyone for doing a great job. Anyone who is really TRYING to do a great job shouldn't mind either. I've bever understood the concept that it's bad to "teach to the test". If teaching to the test means kids learn how to read and write better maybe it's not a bad thing. Conversely, if teachers were doing a good job they wouldn't HAVE to teach to the test. If kids can't pass basic math and reading tests than whatever methods are being used obviously aren't working.

[summer]

BTW, here is what Gov Bush's foundation says in a recent press release about the E Comp Plan (merit pay) for Florida teachers:

-------------

TEACHER PERFORMANCE PAY

“Teachers are our most valuable asset and their dedication and commitment should be recognized and rewarded” – Governor Jeb Bush

What’s all this buzz about teacher performance pay?

It’s called E-Comp and it is a new proposal to recognize and reward good teachers.

Did you know that all Florida teachers are paid the same based on their education background and years of experience? Regardless of subject, type of school, hours they put in or how well their students are learning, they are paid the same. That hardly seems fair. And where is the incentive to do better?

Can you imagine being a baseball player with a batting average of 500 and receiving the same pay as a teammate with a batting average of 175? Or working in real estate sales and being paid the same whether you sell twenty homes or only one? Or how about being a nurse and receiving the same pay whether you work the morning or midnight shift? Or a student who received A’s on all his math exams, but was given the same report card grade as a classmate who never studies or does homework and barely passed the exams?

Florida teachers should be rewarded for their hard work and going the extra mile like so many do, silently, day after day.

Florida law already requires teachers be awarded bonuses based on their performance but some districts limit the bonuses only to certain types of teachers while others put the burden on the teacher to apply for their well deserved bonus. They require teachers to file applications and complicated portfolios of their work to be considered. E-Comp puts the burden on the state and district to identify teachers that have excelled and reward them.

In 2005, 36% of the districts did not provide any bonuses for teachers. Some of those same districts, however, rewarded their administrators. That’s not fair and teachers should be treated and rewarded more fairly and equally across the state.

How does it work?

Eligible teachers will be identified by the performance gains of their students. The top percentage of teachers in each district will receive a bonus of at least 5% of their base salary.

Every year, beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, a minimum of 10% of teachers will be rewarded. In the years following, all teachers who have ever been in the top 10% and remain in the top 25% will continue to receive a bonus. For example, if a teacher was in the top 10% for the first two years of the program but in the third year of the program the teacher was not in the top 10%, he or she will still receive a bonus as long as he or she remains in the top 25%.

Who is eligible?

All teachers (those who teach FCAT and non-FCAT tested subjects) will have an equal opportunity to receive a bonus regardless of their school, subject or student level they teach. Eligibility is not solely based on any one test but rather an overall appraisal. School districts will have flexibility in setting the standards of the appraisal.

In other words, a teacher in an inner city school with struggling students performing below grade level will be equally eligible as a teacher in a new suburban school with top performing students. The goal for them both is to make sure their students make progress – to increase learning gains, regardless of their student’s performance level at the start of the school year.

Fact vs. Fiction

Members of the Teachers Union have said that “under this new rule, students will suffer and teachers will be penalized.”

FACT: Nothing could be further from the truth. E-Comp is designed to reward teachers who are going above and beyond. Students only stand to gain from teachers who are more motivated to help them excel.

The Teachers Union has also said it will require students to take more standardized tests and hurt teachers who work with students who have difficulty learning.

FACT: Again, this is simply not true. No additional testing will be required to administer E-Comp. And teachers who are spending more time with students who have difficulty learning will be rewarded for their efforts. Those students will be rewarded as well – by learning and because their teacher didn’t give up on them. Teachers who spend time with students who struggle give those students the confidence they need that someone believes they have the ability to learn.

Isn’t it funny that the Teacher’s Union is trying to suppress a program designed to help the very people they represent?

CALL TO ACTION!!!!!

Are you a teacher or do you know one? Forward this email to them or write back yourself. Teachers – it’s time your voice was heard. Please tell us what you think. Send an email to info@foundationforfloridasfuture.org.

For more information on E-Comp go to www.floridaecomp.com.

If you agree with the policies that have been implemented, if you have witnessed the lives that have been touched, and if you, too, agree that education must continue to be at the top of our state’s priorities, I urge you to join the Foundation for Florida’s Future. Please click on the link below and sign-up to receive regular updates on education news around Florida and the Foundation’s activities.

foundationforfloridasfuture.org

Mandy Fletcher
Foundation for Florida's Future
www.foundationforfloridasfutre.org

[summer]

PS Gov Bush's foundation would like to know your opinion on this issue. See my post #65.

[Lancey Howard]

Excellent post.

I have always thought that it's all about the parents. Stupid parents tend to congregate in poor areas and have stupid kids who generally all go to the same school. And vice versa for smart parents.

There's really not much that a teacher can do with a classroom full of stupid and disruptive kids, and there's really not much a teacher has to do with a classroom full of smart and attentive kids.

[summer]

PS Gov Bush's foundation would like to know your opinion on this issue -- see my post #65. Thanks!

[summer]

LOL..well, I wouldn't say that! All kids CAN learn. But, the home life does make an impact. That's why all these schools willing to take kids from low poverty areas want parents to sign "contracts" that the parents will do this, that and the other thing. These school know without parental involvement, it's very tough.

[LexBaird]

What measure is used for a teacher?

Benchmark each class at the first of the year and again at the end of the year on objective tests. Compare the benchmark scores against other teachers in the same district/area, with controls for demography.

The good teachers will be the ones who consistently improve their class of student's achievements the most. After a couple of years, it becomes obvious who is benefiting their students and who is not.

[wintertime]

As another poster has already said, the problem here is that high-performing students are often high-performing because of the enrichment given at home.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&7

Nearly all academically successful students are homeschooled. It does not matter if they attend school or not. I say "nearly" because there are always a few exceptions.

The only thing a government school does is send home a curriculum for the parents to follow.

My husband worked for du Pont for many years. The scientists and engineers he worked with went home every night and made certain that their children knew their math facts by rote. Then they corrected the new-new math misunderstandings and made certain their children were well grounded the math algorithms that they learned in their mud hut, third-world, elementary schools.

These scientists and engineers bought Hooked on Phonics for their pre-schoolers, and at the first sign of academic difficulty hired tutors.

Their homework was checked for neatness, spelling and grammatical errors, and completeness.

Vacations and trips to museums were planned to reinforce topics taught in school.

These children were read to every night.

TV and video games were tightly regulated.

Books and magazines filled their homes.

Their children attended concerts, ballet, theater productions, art exhibits, and recitals of all kinds.

These children participated in theater, dance, music, and art lessons.

These children attended summer camps that specialized in their children's talents.

In essence these parents did everything I did as a homeschool parent. Who takes the credit when these well-educated children raise the standardized scores of their government school? YES! Of course! The government school!

There are two very significant differences between the children of the scientists and engineers who attended school and true homeschoolers:

First, the schooled children did not have as much time to express their creativity or pursue their own academic interests.
Second, they didn't have as much time for play to burn off calories and build strong muscles and bones, had worse school diets, and were fatter.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I like the principles that E-Comp is based on. Pay should be linked to performance. Also, it is very important to stop social promotion. Social promotion tells kids that it doesn't matter how well they perform, that they will be promoted on and on. Teacher performance pay should work if administered properly. I think it will be possible to reward teachers in schools were the students are currently poor performers, since if they learn more and score higher then that would demonstrate improved performance.

In this area public education needs to go back to what it was years ago when a HS diploma meant something.

Now, what is going to be done about enforcing discipline among students. How do you punish trouble-making kids that distract others from learning?

[SoftballMominVA]

Does it truly matter who "takes" the credit as long as the kids and parents are happy with the outcome? Don't be so concerned with tallying up points in your column. Our children are not game pieces--they are our treasures given by God. I do the best I can with mine as you do with yours. I respect your choice, you do not respect mine. Life goes on.

[wintertime]

Does it truly matter who "takes" the credit as long as the kids and parents are happy with the outcome?

##############

Yes it does matter. Why?

Because if we do not know the source of success we can not duplicate success. This has grave consequences for real children.

It matters because government K-12 education costs the citizens of this nation MORE than the military. It is MORE than $10,883 per government schooled, K-12 child, per year!

Wrong educational policy sucks money from projects that could be doing children real good.

The amount of money spent on government K-12 education is an enormous drain on our economy, inflating the prices of everything made in the U.S. It puts our products at at disadvantage, and drives businesses off-shore. It also sucks capital out of investment that could be making the world healthier, happier, and safer.

This matters!

[festus]

In the fall I start down that road with my first born.

As both I and my wife also got the private school education starting in 1st grade and onward we both believe in it.

From 7th grade onward I was working a little to help pay for it.

[Zack Nguyen]

That is the reason many teachers oppose merit pay -- because the teachers in the affluent, wealthy, all white schools will get merit pay year after year, even if they do absolutely nothing because those kids' parents are also teaching those kids.

An interesting point and no doubt true, but I don't feel sorry for teachers. It's not as if bad teachers get their salaries cut or get fired under this program (though they should.) It is introducing a little competition into the industry. So it's not a level playing field - that's life. Most people deal with it everyday.

[Nextrush]

Starting salaries are between 30 and 40 thousand a year around here, depending on the district. Also, the medical and dental benefits come at little cost. (Generally under a hundred dollars a month.) You keep sounding like a commercial for the National Education Association? What are your views on political indoctrination of children in public schools?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I will warn you about private schools. Be careful. The older established private schools are usually excellent, but some of the newer schools are no better than many public schools. Also, not all public schools are bad. For example if you live in the Washington, DC area, the schools in Northern Virginia (Fairfax County) are excellent. Of course the DC schools are a disaster.
Another factor, sometimes the snooty private schools seem to perpetuate the "country club" frat boy/sorority girl snob superiority environment. In other words, people send their children there just because it is the school equivalent of the country club.

[ridesthemiles]

She is crying about "her salary".
For crying out loud, I have been paying MY SALARY for 49+ years in the form of property taxes to "educate" all these little darlings with these incompetant teachers.
When do I get to complain about her stealing my salary?

I have never understood how "tenure" can be applied to people who are totally incompetant.

[summer]

LOL...I did not say the union is always right, nor do I know how you concluded that! I was very much a supporter of merit pay until I taught in a classroom where 20% were there illegally because the district admnistrators didn't even know their own school board policy or state law, and did nothing about complying with it. How does a hard working qualified teacher compete on a level playing field when she is teaching a class consisting of students who are not supposed to be there by law? She has to have two spearte classes. And be at least two teachers. Some teachers will leave teaching in those circumstances. It's like being an eye doctor and then being told you will also be doing major surgery each day, because no one at the hospital thought to hire a surgeon.