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$300 Million Spent On Texas Teacher Merit Pay Produced Few Gains
The $300 million Texas spent on merit pay for teachers over the past three years produced few gains by students, according to a review of the now-defunct Texas Educator Excellence Grant.
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AUSTIN (November 4, 2009)--Texas spent $300 million on merit pay for teachers over the past three years in an effort that led to few gains by students, according to the National Center on Performance Incentives, which reviewed the now-defunct Texas Educator Excellence Grant.
The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that researchers determined there was "no systematic evidence that TEEG had an impact on student achievement gains."
Researchers examined reading scores on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for more than 140,000 students.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry, Allison Castle, said Perry supports merit pay incentives for the best teachers.
She said Perry worked with the Legislature to consolidate programs into one with an increase funding.
Legislators provided nearly $200 million annually for another merit pay plan that began last year, District Awards for Teacher Excellence, or DATE.
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Anyone who thought that merit pay would improve student performance were quite naive from the beginning. Teachers don't do their jobs for the big money. If they did there wouldn't be any schools in Texas. It's about the kids. When parents step up and work with the teachers instead of fighting against everything they do, students are better behaved and learn.
Any/All Childrens education 'always' begins at home(from time of and even before birth). Always has been, always will be! If children have 'no' desire to learn, then Teachers don't have much to work with! Then the Teachers 'really' have to work hard with each child/student to create their desire to learn. I personally would 'not' want to be a School Teacher for any amount of money, bonuses or not!!!
Merit pay for teachers is laughable, it should be given to parents. Maybe then teachers will not continually be railroaded because students get poor grades. Teaching should BEGIN AT HOME, then be carried through the school years. I have met many parents who honestly believe that since teachers are paid, they alone are responsible for education our children. Teachers are even expected to teach manners. Maybe it's time to start firing parents when children don't learn, not the teachers. In case anyone is wondering, I am not a "teacher", just a parent who from day one knew my children were my responsibility. It didn't stop at kindergarten. (granted not all teachers have the ability to teach, as not all parents have the ability to parent)
