Teacher performance pay exploded onto the political and educational scenes during the 2010 legislative session, but it was eventually vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist. Now advisers on Gov.-elect Rick Scott's education team have made some tweaks that might help a similar bill to SB 6 pass in 2011.
The report, released Tuesday evening, suggests a performance pay system where at least 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation is based on the student's performance. But rather than have it based on the year-to-year progress of a student, the teacher would be evaluated on a multiple year review system.
In April, teachers and parents, prompted by teachers' union lawyers and representatives, said they were concerned with extenuating circumstances that affect a child's education, including the child's home life, for example. They feared their performance-based evaluation would be systemically unfair, since some factors are out of their control. But Scott's education team has added something to the list of ideas that might help in that area: Pay teachers more who work in low-income areas, low-performing schools, or other high-need areas. Or at least find some way to provide incentives to highly skilled teachers who agree to work in those areas.
Another controversial tenant of last year's education reform bill was abolishing teacher tenure, which makes it almost impossible for schools to fire teachers. Scott's team suggestsgetting rid of teacher tenure for newly hired teachers. Established teachers could keep their tenure, but the Department of Education would create an incentive program of higher pay or some other benefit for those who are willing to give it up.
The tenure system would be replaced by a contract system. One-year contracts would be issued to teachers for the first few years, then, based on that teacher's performance, he or she may be eligible for extended multiple year contracts.
The report recommends dozens of other reform ideas like creating an education savings account for public school parents who want to find an alternative form of educating their children. The state would give parents 85 percent of the money the public schools would have spent on the child. Parents could then use that money for private school, virtual schooling, private tutoring and other education-related expenses.
It also recommends moving state assessments online and expanding the role of digital content to replace textbooks.
Many of the ideas suggest offering incentives as a way to motivate changes, but there was no direct indication of how those incentives would be paid for. During Scott's meetings with legislators he often asked how programs would be funded and generally got little response.
At the end of the report a handful of cost-cutting and revenue-generating ideas are offered, but it's unclear how much impact those ideas might have. They include:
Contracting out business services like payroll, IT services and property management.
Conducting reviews to increase efficiency and identify cost savings.
Developing a fiscal accountability system.
Create and sell innovative educational systems and reinvest funds into educational system.
Wednesday was the last day Scott was meeting with his various transition teams. He says he'll use the information to assist him as he prepares to take office in January.
Lane Wright may be reached at lane@sunshinestatenews.com or (561) 247-1063.
