Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2014 22:15:34 -0400
From: Gene
Subject: Chatham County pioneering effort to offer incentive program for teachers
PITTSBORO, NC – Chatham County teachers and teacher assistants will be eligible for bonuses of up to $1,000 a year if student test scores rise, making the district the only one in the state with a systemwide teacher incentive program, county leaders say.The state had an incentive program that gave teachers bonuses up to $1,500 when a school’s test scores improved, but the program ended in 2009 when the money ran out during the recession.
Chatham County Schools’ program, approved as part of the county budget this week, offers $1,000 bonuses to teachers and $500 to teacher assistants if their school exceeds expected growth in test scores, school board Chairwoman Karen Howard said.If a school meets expected growth, based on targets the state sets before the school year, then teachers will receive $500 bonuses and teacher assistants, $250 bonuses.
County commissioners said increased county sales tax revenue will pay for the program’s projected $575,000 cost.Pioneering effortChatham County Schools has 565 teachers who teach in 17 schools serving about 8,200 students.*
Howard said she thinks Chatham County is the first school district in the state to have a district-wide, locally funded incentive pay plan.
State Superintendent June Atkinson said Lee County Schools has a similar program but it only rewards the teachers of the school that makes the most growth.
However, she said not all districts can afford programs like Chatham.
Read the entire story at
http://www.newsobserver.com/