There are few professions that carry more economic and social importance for this nation than teaching. No Child Left Behind has ignited vital debates surrounding our current educational system, but if it wants to impact some of this nation’s most fundamental challenges, revisions to this law must address teacher’s pay and incentive structures. As Superintendent of Prince George’s County Public Schools, John Deasy, points out in Michael Alison Chandler’s “Support Grows for Teacher Bonuses,” (Washington Times, 9/18/07) “we need to pay our best and brightest more, particularly in places where it’s most difficult to work.” Naturally, identifying and retaining the best and the brightest teachers remains at the heart of this debate. Some school districts are using test scores as benchmarks, while others are adopting other performance pay plans based on teacher evaluations, national board certification, or portfolio submissions demonstrating leadership and parent outreach.
Despite attempts in some states to set higher standards for teacher certification, new teachers nationwide continue to come primarily from among the bottom of the graduating college classes. Moreover, there remains a major gap in the number of teachers needed to fill vacancies. Given these trends, national marketing campaigns and outreaches coupled with effective financial incentives can prove to be key factors in attracting a pipeline of qualified teachers from a pool of the top-third of college graduates. – Arian Hassani | Program Associate
0 Responses to “With Teachers, You Get What You Pay For”