State to gather ideas for teacher merit-pay plan

As educators in most of Utah's school districts and charter schools anticipate receiving one-time funding for teacher merit pay, the state's education officials are working on a statewide performance-based compensation plan.

State Board of Education member Debra Roberts told the Education Interim Committee Wednesday that, over the next couple of month, focus groups will help develop ideas for merit pay. Those will be followed by meetings with stakeholders, including principals, teachers and parents.

"This will be an evolving thing," Roberts said. "It's better to take the time to do it right."

The Legislature earmarked $20 million last spring in one-time funding for the compensation plans. The school board has approved all 88 merit-pay plans for participating districts and charter schools.