By Kari Merrill
Performance-based pay is still a delicate discussion topic among educators and policy makers, but with a new proposal released from the Sutherland Institute, a solution could be on the horizon.
The Sutherland Institute, a non-profit organization responsible for analyzing public policies in Utah, recently released a new recommendation concerning the concept of performance-based pay for educators. The original idea, generally unpopular among educators, would allot teachers'' pay based on the performances of their students on tests and in the classroom.
Diane Cluff, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Provo High School, says there is so much curriculum necessary to be taught for tests that classroom flexibility is difficult. Test performance becomes a major obstacle for teachers, especially when students don''t want to learn.
'If a student comes to our school we have to teach them, and the performance-based pay puts more stress on the teachers,' she said.
The proposal from the Sutherland Institute, if passed, will still place emphasis on test results and student classroom performance, but will also take into account parent, teacher and principal recommendations.
The incentive-based pay system has been presented to the legislature, and is currently pending for promotion by a legislator. The idea has not yet moved towards becoming a bill, but the institute is hopeful that it might happen sometime next year.
According to the Sutherland Institute philosophy found on their Web site, 'We believe that parents are responsible for their children''s education and that the state role in education is primarily as a support to parents.'
Derek Monson, the policy analyst responsible for the proposal said the intent of the new system is to give teachers, parents and principals all a considerable voice in the education of their children. The system, he said, will give all involved motivation to work with each other and help each other perform. Teachers and principals will be rewarded with pay raises, and parents will be rewarded as their children receive a good education.
We do include test scores as a measure of teacher performance,' Monson said. 'The difference is that we don''t rely solely on the test scores to indicate performance. We feel that it''s one measure of many that could be used.'
Another issue covered by the proposal is the qualifications necessary to be a teacher. Currently, teachers are expected to continue taking classes to remain informed in their teaching areas.
'Teaching is the only profession that has to pay for a raise,' said Susan Schumacher, a Utah Pro Star Representative.
Schumacher said it is becoming increasingly difficult to be a fully qualified teacher, while keeping up with current student trends.
'There is a real problem with teachers not being up-to-date with students,' she said.
Ann Decker, a work-based learning instructor from Timpview High School in Provo, said incentive-pay won''t make a difference in teachers meeting qualification standards.
'I think good teachers are already stepping up to the plate and doing the things that they need to do,' Decker said.
According to the Sutherland proposal, the old pay system concept, based solely on degree and tenure, needs to be removed to make way for a more fully incorporated system.
Many teachers said tenure in Utah schools, essentially job security bestowed after only three years as a teacher, is also a problem. This is being addressed by the Sutherland Institute''s proposal.
'Part of our recommendation as well is to reform tenure and make tenure itself based on performance,' Monson said. 'Our recommendation as a whole is about making the education system based on performance rather than what it is currently based on.'
The Sutherland proposal will increase teacher incentive pay based not only on class performance, but also teacher performance and experience as well as parent/principal approval. Tenure will become more of an accomplishment under the system and will emphasize performance over job security.