- Teacher Pay Cannot Be Linked to Student Performance
- Posted By:
- Tom A.
- Posted On:
- 22-Apr-2010
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Surprisingly, Bannockburn Elementary School students fared well in last year’s test results in Illinois. At these schools, the teachers’ salaries were average, ranking 242 nd among district state wide. For instance, the north suburban school district demonstrates ample difference between teacher pay and student achievement through a Chicago Sun-Times analysis.
A concern that has drawn the attention of the Obama administration, proposing to link teacher pay to student achievement, is just 7 of the topmost 25 elementary districts for highest-paid teachers as well as in student performance marks.
The teacher salary as of now is determined mainly by seniority and also by an advanced higher grade. The property values, in few cases, results in higher tax revenue, which is also a main cause. But exceptions like Bannockburn District, where 106 teachers make nearly $53,000 on an average.
One of the chief causes is that, though starting salaries for experienced educators are higher, neighbourhood school districts pay them lesser wages. "The panel has felt it is significant to attract younger educators who are talented and pay them good at the start," said Supt. Jo Ann Desmond.
Desmond said, “The district persists to pay them decently, but don’t insist on to be here for 25 or 30 years to earn a good living”, as they acquire knowledge. She thanks "parents with very high prospects" for student achievement and to committed teachers who are willing to "give away from what they're paid."
The fact that repeated testing and data collections assist teachers in identifying students who are challenged and are falling behind in their district, has been noticed by her. Argo Supt. Kevin O'Malley supposed that his payroll twists high. Also it is a draw, which permits to "compete for the best educators in the state of Illinois.
A state law passed in January to help Illinois schools to meet the criteria for the federal "Race to the Top" program with millions of dollars in grants, providing schools to tie up student performance to educator and administrator pay.
The legislation was sponsored by 115 Illinois teachers unions, excluding the Chicago Teachers Union, which had fought efforts to support pay on value, in the past. Robin Steans, an executive director of Advance Illinois, an education policy group, said that no one has found a practical way to assess teacher performance to student presentation.
Steans, a former teacher said, “You cannot find two merit programs which look alike, so it's complicated to draw conclusions about how to do it in terms of making dissimilarity in the classroom.
He also says that PSAE and ISAT tests that are used to calculate success rankings – are faulty ways of determining development, as they aren't constant every year. Steans stated that an important thing could be done now, is before allowing tenure, good tests should be given keenly to estimate upcoming teachers.
He also said that tenure was granted just based on the fact that students complete four years without gauging their performance.