In a continuation of last week’s post regarding giving cash incentives to students for high grades and attendance records. This week, I’d like to bring up the issue of merit pay, or cash incentives for teachers based on class performance. A few weeks ago, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Raymond Simon announced $13.6 million in Teacher Incentive Fund grants for four Florida school districts. The Florida grant is only one of 18 Teacher Incentive Fund grants, totaling approximately $38.2 million, to be awarded nationwide in this round of funding.
Launched in 2006 by President Bush as part of the American Competitiveness Initiative, the Teacher Incentive Fund enables states and districts to provide financial incentives to its educators for increasing student achievement and closing the achievement gap. The fund also provides incentives to educators who serve in challenging or underserved schools.
Merit pay has drawn criticism by some which fear incentives could be awarded based on favoritism rather than performance or that incentive pay could prove to be a divisive issue between teachers, schools, and districts that receive them, and those that don’t. Others however, might see it as encouragement for hardworking teachers, and as an incentive to attract talented teachers to underserved areas.
Are cash incentives a good idea? Does your opinion change when you consider it in the context of No Child Left Behind? Do you see any issues that might arise as a result of this?
Leave your reply in the comments section.
Posted By:
Som Carman
Advanced Academics
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