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By Patricia Hawke
In November 2005, Governor Rick Perry initiated the $10
million
grant program for paying bonuses to school employees who have
performed above expectations in raising student performance
levels. One hundred Texas schools have been invited to
participate in the Governor’s Educator Excellence Award
Program. To date, 98 have accepted the invitation.
The chosen Texas Schools have a high percentage of
economically
disadvantaged students. Each school has demonstrated high
levels
of student achievement or marked student improvement. Each has
been rated exemplary or recognized, which are the two top
academic ratings that can be awarded to a school under the
Texas schools’ accountability system; or they have shown
strong
performance gains in the areas of mathematics and reading.
Each school may apply for a three-year grant as follows:
• Schools with 449 students or less — $60,000 a year grant,
• With 450 to 699 students — $90,000 a year grant,
• 700 to 1,199 student — $135,000 a year grant, or
• 1,200 students or more — $180,000 a year grant.
To maintain eligibility for the grant program, the
participating Texas schools must receive ratings of
academically acceptable or better. Recommended bonus amounts
range from $3,000 to $10,000 per individual.
Each school may develop a customized incentive pay program
that
fits their individual school, as long as the teachers are
involved in its development and under the following
guidelines:
• 75 percent of the grant money must be used for classroom
teacher incentive pay;
• A classroom teacher must be employed by the Texas schools
district and spend an average of four hours each day teaching
in an academic setting or career/technology instructional
setting;
• Award recipients must improve student performance and exceed
academic growth expectations,
• Performance must be determined using objective and
quantifiable measures, such as local benchmarking systems,
end-of-course tests, and other assessments, and
• Recipients must have collaborated with other faculty and
staff members to improve overall student performance at the
school.
Athletic coaches are not eligible for the program, unless they
also teach and qualify under the classroom teacher guidelines.
The customized incentive pay plans may take into account a
teacher’s assignment in hard-to-staff areas that are specific
to individual school districts. A teacher’s initiative and
commitment to other activities that directly result in
improved
student performance also may be considered, such as tutoring
students after school.
Some of the possible uses for the remaining 25 percent of the
grant money are:
• To provide incentive pay for other school personnel who
contribute to increased student achievement,
• Provide training to teachers,
• Support activities for mentoring,
• Teacher induction programs,
• Signing bonuses for teachers in high-need subject areas,
• Activities that support common planning time and curriculum
development,
• Proven programs to recruit and retain teachers, and
• Stipends for teachers who participate in after school or
Saturday programs, which are designed to improve teaching and
learning.
Though 12 percent of the Texas schools’ districts have some
type of teacher incentive pay program, this is the first state
program in almost 20 years. When Texas schools achieve
exceptional results, the principals always give credit to
their
teachers and staffs. The Intent of the Governor’s excellence
award program is to say a very sincere “thank you” to the
teachers and staff who go the extra mile to help students
succeed.
About The Author: Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools
K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and
private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and
writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more
on
Texas schools visit
www.schoolsk-12.com/Texas/index.html
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