Utah Legislature: Teacher merit pay resolution raises new questions

SALT LAKE CITY — A senator's questions may bring a new twist to the debate on teacher merit pay.

Rep. Marie Poulson, D-Cottonwood Heights, is proposing a resolution that recommends guidelines for teacher performance pay plans. HJR3 passed unanimously through the Senate Education Committee Monday and will head to the Senate for debate.

Currently, teachers receive pay based on degrees, certification and years in the profession.

But Sen. Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, asked a question no one can answer right now. If a performance pay plan is implemented, will teachers have the opportunity to earn a bonus for exemplary skills? Or will a teacher's pay be partially based on performance, meaning a bad teacher could actually receive a pay cut of sorts?

"Would more and more of the pay scale be performance-based? Or is this a new layer of funding and component of compensation?" Stephenson said.

State school Superintendent Larry Shumway said it's hard to predict how things will be in the future, due to the slumping economic climate. "We'll see," he said.

Several schools are part of a pilot program this year, in which they create a performance pay plan. The schools will implement their plans next school year. After the two-year pilot, State Office of Education officials aim to create a statewide proposal.

Teachers say merit pay plans that include student test scores, as well as evaluations from students and parents, can be extremely subjective with many variables.

The goal of HJR3 is to ensure a quality teacher in every classroom; promote student achievement; have the plan adequately funded; promote collaboration among teachers; be flexible and responsive to local needs; use fair and objective criteria; and be open to all who are eligible.

The State School Board and the Utah Education Association, along with the Utah School Boards and Utah School Superintendents Associations, support the resolution.

See the bill at le.utah.gov/~2010/bills/hbillint/hjr003.htm

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