Performance Based Compensation Top Myths
Myth: According to a model/proposal initiated by the Committee, all teachers, including current teachers would start at $27,500.
Truth: The model being distributed is not current. First, the $27,500 would be a starting salary for a first year teacher.
The model was given to committee members as a starting point for discussion. Many of the items on the model have been removed.
Myth: The committee has already made up its mind on a proposal.
Truth: The committee is still discussing ideas and potential plans. When a plan is developed, the committee hopes to pilot it in a school and/or district.
Myth: Current teacher pay will be cut with a merit pay system.
Truth: Based on the committee’s discussion, any developed plan will preserve the current pay for current teachers.
Educators can rest assured that under a proposed plan, their current pay would not be cut.
Myth: The Committee is made up of non-educators.
Truth: The Committee is constructed of a broad range of educational interests from legislators to researchers to school board members to teachers to parents.
Myth: A merit pay system will be based solely on ISAT scores.
Truth: The committee strongly believes that student achievement should be part of any merit pay system.
ISAT scores might be one of many criteria used to measure student achievement. If ISAT scores were used as one of many indicators it would be based on growth versus proficiency.
Myth: Merit pay will hinder collaboration among teachers.
Truth: The committee feels strongly that collaboration and team effort must be a significant component of teacher evaluation.
Myth: Teachers who have special education students in their classrooms will not benefit from a merit –based system.
Truth: The student growth component will be based on the learning of each individual student.
Myth: Veteran teachers will be forced from the profession by eliminating salary increases for teachers who have been teaching in Idaho for a long time.
Truth: It is the intent of the committee to compensate our great veteran teachers based on performance rather than limit them after a set number of years so more are encouraged to remain in the teaching field.
Myth: The current pay system is fair and equitable.
Truth: Any system that pays people the same no matter how hard they work or what they achieve is not fair or equitable.
Myth: A new performance-based compensation structure for Idaho would start by cutting teachers’ pay.
Truth: No current teacher’s pay would be reduced. The committee has indicated that those in the present pay structure would have the choice to continue in the current system or opt into a merit pay system.
Next Meeting
To be announced