So there's been a lot of scuttle but here in Seattle about the new teachers contract. If you are interested you can read the highlights on the link below.
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/1011/20100915_Board_Approves_SEA_Contract_FINAL.pdf
There was a lot of conversation around Antioch during the debate before the new contract was approved because there are some major issues at play. The real game-changer is this: the new contract includes an incentive pay provision by which teachers who receive high performance ratings and whose students are making acceptable academic progress get a bonus.
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/1011/20100915_Board_Approves_SEA_Contract_FINAL.pdf
There was a lot of conversation around Antioch during the debate before the new contract was approved because there are some major issues at play. The real game-changer is this: the new contract includes an incentive pay provision by which teachers who receive high performance ratings and whose students are making acceptable academic progress get a bonus.
Advocates point to the seemingly obvious logic that teachers will perform better if they get paid more to do so. Critics are wary of the efficacy of this system, knowing that teacher performance is just one factor among many which impact how well students do in school. A few casual conversations with fellow students seemed to show that most students at Antioch (at least among my classmates) were in favor of connecting teachers pay with student achievement.
But recently, Education Week came out with a an article reviewing the results of a major study which asked the question "Does incentive pay for teachers lead to higher performance amongst students?" To my surprise, at least in this case, the answer was NO.
Tell me what you think, should we be spending our time and money elsewhere if incentive programs don't work?
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