Select Richmond schools to begin performance-pay pilot programs for teachers
A new joint federal and Commonwealth initiative will test a program aimed to reward (thusly to retain) teachers in 13 of the state’s 132 school districts. One of those districts is Richmond. On what the pilot program entails, and what students it will serve.
Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that teachers in 25 Virginia schools, including 3 in Richmond, will participate in performance-pay pilot programs during the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. All told, 10% of the state’s school divisions will trial the initiatives. The pilot programs will be funded by either state or federal money.
Speaking of the pilot program, Gov. McDonnell said in press release, “There is a growing consensus that public schools must move beyond a compensation model that equally rewards mediocrity and excellence and is rooted in a past when our young people did not face fierce global competition.” He added that bipartisan support at both state and federal levels fostered the implementation of performance pay “in some of the Commonwealth’s most hard-to-staff rural and urban schools.”
Participating schools in Richmond will include Armstrong High (2300 Cool Lane), Boushall Middle (3400 Hopkins Road), and Thompson Middle (7824 Forest Hill Avenue).
“The key to a successful performance-pay plan is an evaluation system that is capable of identifying truly exemplary teachers,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright. “The model these schools will implement is informed by the latest research on using multiple criteria to objectively measure the impact of individual teachers on student learning and achievement.”
As a federally funded pilot program, exemplary Richmond teachers will receive bonuses in the fall of 2013 based on evaluations during 2012-2013 academic year. State-funded pilot programs will award exemplary pay in the fall of 2012 based on evaluations during the 2011-2012 academic year. Below is a full list of participating schools, designated with either their federal or state funding parameters:
Virginia Performance-Pay Pilot Program Schools
- Accomack County — State-funded performance award of $3,000 for teachers in grades 2-5 at Kegotank Elementary and Pungoteague Elementary earning an exemplary rating with an additional $2,000 if schoolwide goals are met
- Caroline County — State-funded performance award of $5,000 for teachers at Caroline High and Madison Elementary earning an exemplary rating
- Colonial Beach — Federally funded $3,000 performance award for teachers at Colonial Beach High earning an exemplary rating
- Dinwiddie County — State-funded $5,000 performance awards for English, mathematics, social science and special education teachers at Dinwiddie County Middle earning an exemplary rating
- Fluvanna County — Federally funded $3,000 performance award for teachers at Central Elementary, Columbia Elementary and Cunningham Elementary earning an exemplary rating
- Franklin — Federally funded $3,000 performance award for teachers at Franklin High earning an exemplary rating
- Greensville County — State-funded $5,000 performance awards for teachers in the four tested content areas at Edward W. Wyatt Middle earning exemplary ratings
- Hopewell — Federally funded $3,000 performance award for teachers at Hopewell High earning an exemplary rating
- Northampton County — Federally funded $3,000 performance award for teachers at Kiptopeake Elementary and Northampton High earning an exemplary rating
- Patrick County — State-funded $5,000 performance awards for full-time teachers at Blue Ridge Elementary and Hardin Reynolds Memorial (grades 4-7) earning an exemplary rating and awards of $3,000 for itinerate teachers earning an exemplary rating
- Petersburg — Federally funded $3,000 for teachers at A.P. Hill Elementary and Peabody Middle earning an exemplary rating
- Richmond — Federally funded $3,000 performance awards for teachers at Armstrong High, Boushall Middle and Thompson Middle earning an exemplary rating
- Roanoke — State-funded $5,000 performance awards for teachers at Patrick Henry High earning an exemplary rating; and federally funded $3,000 awards for exemplary-rated teachers at Fleming High, Lincoln Terrace Elementary and Westside Elementary
photo by breity
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Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
Thanks for the coverage. Do you have anymore info on what it means to be an “exemplary-rated teacher?”
Not at this time. When we discern the criteria, however, we’ll be sure to pass it along.
In Richmond, the criteria is likely to be whether you’re related to a member of RPS administration and/or went to the proper school and/or were a member of the proper sorority. So if you’re an AKA from VUU? Your chances are very high of being rated “exemplary” even if you, say, have taught for 7 years without certification and help your students cheat on their science SOL tests.
Hypothetically, of course. *cough*
“The model these schools will implement is informed by the latest research on using multiple criteria to objectively measure the impact of individual teachers on student learning and achievement.”
= Standardized Test Scores to me. It’s impossible to use the objective opinion of an administrator to make those kind of decisions. Their judgement would be too often called into question and unfortunately Jimmy’s comment often proves truer than it seems. Teachers in the Arts and Phys Ed will never see these bonuses because their performance is more difficult to assess or measure due to the lack of standardized testing or even teaching methods.
As a teacher, I like the idea of performance-based pay, but there needs to be a better method for evaluating teacher performance without putting further strain on increasingly under-staffed school administrative offices.
The VDOE has set forth new standards for teacher evaluations. I am sure that it will be tied to it. http://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching/regulations/2011_guidelines_uniform_performance_standards_evaluation_criteria.pdf
The money doesn’t come without strings attached. I’m sure that they are piloting the teacher review system as well.
$3000 after taxes isn’t that much nor is $5000 but when your paid so little, anything looks great. I wonder if this is actually going to work.