Push For Merit-Based Teacher Pay Heats Up

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A merit-based teacher salary plan proposed by Republican state lawmakers could cause teachers' paychecks to vary dramatically depending on how well their students perform in the

Sunday, August 26th 2007, 6:50 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A merit-based teacher salary plan proposed by Republican state lawmakers could cause teachers' paychecks to vary dramatically depending on how well their students perform in the classroom.

Supporters say tying teacher pay to performance will lead to increased accountability and more innovation and effort in the classroom. But opponents say teachers would be forced to compete instead of collaborate. And tying raises or bonuses to student test scores is not the best measure of what constitutes a good teacher, many say.

Republican legislative leaders have said there will be no new teacher raises without at least a portion of the increase tied to performance.

Those on the other side, including Gov. Brad Henry and the state's teachers' union, have said the legislative focus must first be on getting Oklahoma teacher pay to the regional average before any kind of merit pay system is incorporated.

The issue, which is being studied in the House, likely will loom large next legislative session, especially when budget negotiations and a possible teacher pay increase are considered.

Oklahoma officials are not alone in seeking ways to bolster quality teaching. States like Arizona and Texas have implemented either a statewide program or pilots, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

But how successful those programs have been is difficult to gauge either because the programs are new or because they have been changed so much since they were created.

``There isn't much out there yet on how well these systems are working because they are all so new,'' said Michelle Exstrom, a senior education policy specialist for the NCSL. ``We are just now getting to the point where we can study it.''

Roy Bishop, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said getting teacher pay to the regional average should be a priority for lawmakers before considering performance pay.

But he also worries about the Legislature approving a bill requiring districts to pay out merit-based bonuses to high-performing teachers without providing the funds to do it.

The price tag for merit pay would not be small. Texas' merit pay system has cost the state $100 million so far, and the Florida Legislature set aside $147.5 million for its new program, according to the NCSL.

In Minnesota, $86 million was needed from the state, and in Denver $25 million for its performance pay program was raised from property tax increases.

Edmond teacher Martha Wissler said a promise of more money will not make her perform better in the classroom. Nor will it make ineffective teachers successful, she said.

Often working from 7 a.m. to past 6 p.m., Wissler said ``it would be impossible to work any harder than I am right now.''

Her main concern with a merit pay system is that often such programs have been rolled out in other states with much fanfare, only to fall off in subsequent years. Without a promise of consistent funding into the future, teachers will not buy into the program, she said.

As a math teacher at Edmond Memorial High School, Wissler said she also worries about teachers in subject areas other than the core curriculum, such as elective and fine arts teachers.

Most merit-based systems are unable to take into account intrinsic benefits teachers have on students, like dropout prevention or help with family problems, she said.

Related stories:

8/14/2007 Cargill Promotes Teacher Merit Pay Idea

8/21/2007 Expert Says Merit Pay Worthy Idea