Should We Provide Financial Incentives for Teachers?

A recent study examined a Chicago program that provided teachers with annual performance bonuses ($1,100 in the first year and $1,600 in the second year) based on observed classroom performance and their value-added to student achievement.  High-performing teachers were promoted and received salary increases of $7,000 and $15,000.

However, findings show that students in the participating schools did not have significantly higher scores on state reading or mathematics tests.  Also, the study reported no significant effect on teacher retention at either the school or district level.

The study’s findings raise some good questions for education in the greater Fredericksburg area.

Should we be considering rewarding teachers for improvements in test scores?  Perhaps the findings here might be different.

What role do parents and other community members play in supporting school success?

What programs are needed in the greater Fredericksburg area to support better test scores?

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