Education - WSU Vancouver
Compensating Teachers and Schools Based on
"Performance"
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For nearly 100 years, the single-salary schedule has dominated teacher payment plans. Designed to be objective and measurable, these regimented systems are based on years of experience and college credits obtained—not on actual teaching practice or effectiveness with students. But a variety of forces are now converging to lead major cities and school districts around the United States to experiment with alternative teacher compensation systems. First, a move toward teacher professionalism has prompted several prominent teachers unions to reconsider their opposition to new ways of paying educators. Second, the educational standards movement increasingly requires teachers with heightened knowledge and skills in particular domains, such as the ability to develop deep student understandings within content areas, and the capacity to take leadership roles within their schools.
While there is growing consensus that teacher payment systems need to evolve along with social and economic changes within and beyond education, there is little agreement about how new compensation systems should be designed. A key question is how to value and motivate the new generation of teacher-workers (often referred to as “Generation Y”—a group willing to work hard contingent upon quick and visible rewards) without creating overly-competitive environments that some say is antithetical to educational institutions.
Currently, a number of large and small cities and districts throughout the country are experimenting with widely divergent teacher compensation plans. Dr. Jason Margolis is developing plans to examine this issue via surveys and interviews of various stakeholders (teachers, administrators, and district and union leaders) impacted by these changes. The goal is to explore which aspects of these compensation models seem to be working for teachers, schools, and students—and which do not. Implications for this research include the improvement of teacher retention, motivation, and performance, as well as the furthering of educational reform efforts.
Contact Information
Jason M. Margolis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Education
Washington State University Vancouver
14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98686-9600
Telephone: 360-546-9091
E-mail: margolis@wsu.edu
Society, Communication, and Learning
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