Using Teacher Performance to Determine Salaries, Bonuses, & Dismissals

Salaries & Bonuses

When asked about “using teacher performance to determine salaries or bonuses”; 46% of participants nation wide thought that was very important and 36% thought it was somewhat important. That’s a total of 82%. Of parents who participated, 43% thought it was very important and 38% thought it was somewhat important, for a total of 81%. For Republicans it was 51% & 34%; for Democrats it was 41% & 39%; and for Independents it was 44% & 35%. Clearly, all demographics favored the idea heavily. Because teachers have not be found to be very interested in differentiated pay scales or extrinsic rewards, teachers’ unions are not very interested, either.

Dismissals

What do you do, if the teacher in need of improvement does not improve? When asked if “documenting ineffectiveness that could lead to a teacher’s dismissal”, 65% of participants nation wide thought that was very important and 29% thought it was somewhat important. Among parents, 66% thought it was very important and 30% thought it was somewhat important. For Republicans, it was 75% & 21%; for Democrats it was 61% & 33%; and for Independents it was 62% & 30%. There is not doubt participants thought such data should be used to remove teachers who were not improving. Interestingly enough, so do the teachers’ unions.

Ken Mortland

Member – Mainstream Republicans of Washington Board

Vice President - WEA-Retired

Charter Member - NEA Republican Leaders Conference