Pay for Performance in Public Schools Remains Controversial

“Pay for Performance” has made inroads in business, but has remained a hard sell in public school systems. There are some successful examples where teacher pay has been linked to student test scores. In Minnesota some districts have stopped giving automatic raises for seniority and base 60% of all pay increases on performance. In Denver, unions and school districts designed an incentive program where teachers receive bonuses for student achievement and for earning national teaching certificates. However, some plans have not worked. For example, Cincinnati teachers voted against a merit pay proposal and Philadelphia teachers gave their bonus checks to charity rather than cashing them. It appears that having teachers involved in planning the incentive system is one key factor to success. The same can be said for all incentive plans – if employees don’t buy into them, they will not work.

Questions to Research:

1. How could an organization measure the effectiveness of their pay-for-performance plans?

2. From an employee’s perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

3. From an employer’s perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

Research Paper Instructions:

IMPORTANT!!
Submit your work as an MS WORD ATTACHMENT in either a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.

Please support your ideas, arguments, and opinions with independent research, include at least three (3) supporting references or sources (NOT Wikipedia, unknown, or anonymous sources), format your work in proper APA format, include a cover page, minimum of 3 FULL pages of written content, double space all work, include an abstract, reference section, and cite all listed references properly in text in accordance with the 6th edition of the APA manual, chapters 6 & 7.

LATE POLICY: Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule. The due date for each assignment is listed under each Assignment. As adults, students, and working professionals, I understand you must manage competing demands on your time. We all know that “life happens” but it is important to adhere as closely to the deadlines in the class as possible.

Should you need additional time to complete an assignment, please contact me before the due date so we can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. If arrangements are not made in advance, a late penalty of 10% will be assessed for any assignment submitted 1-7 days past the due date. Assignments will not be accepted after the 7th day. No work will be accepted past the final day of class.

Grading Rubric

An outline for your assignment could look something like this:

I. Introduction

II. Pay for Performance Plans

A. Defining a Pay for Performance Plan

B. Purpose in using pay for performance

C. How to measure the effectiveness of a pay for performance plan.

III. Employee Perspective

A. Advantages

B. Disadvantages

IV. Employer Perspective

A. Advantages

B. Disadvantages

V. Summary and Conclusion

Pay for Performance in Public Schools Remains Controversial

“Pay for Performance” has made inroads in business, but has remained a hard sell in public school systems. There are some successful examples where teacher pay has been linked to student test scores. In Minnesota some districts have stopped giving automatic raises for seniority and base 60% of all pay increases on performance. In Denver, unions and school districts designed an incentive program where teachers receive bonuses for student achievement and for earning national teaching certificates. However, some plans have not worked. For example, Cincinnati teachers voted against a merit pay proposal and Philadelphia teachers gave their bonus checks to charity rather than cashing them. It appears that having teachers involved in planning the incentive system is one key factor to success. The same can be said for all incentive plans – if employees don’t buy into them, they will not work.

Questions to Research:

1. How could an organization measure the effectiveness of their pay-for-performance plans?

2. From an employee’s perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

3. From an employer’s perspective, what are the advantages and disadvantages of using a pay-for-performance plan?

Research Paper Instructions:

IMPORTANT!!
Submit your work as an MS WORD ATTACHMENT in either a .doc, .docx, or .rtf format.

Please support your ideas, arguments, and opinions with independent research, include at least three (3) supporting references or sources (NOT Wikipedia, unknown, or anonymous sources), format your work in proper APA format, include a cover page, minimum of 3 FULL pages of written content, double space all work, include an abstract, reference section, and cite all listed references properly in text in accordance with the 6th edition of the APA manual, chapters 6 & 7.

LATE POLICY: Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule. The due date for each assignment is listed under each Assignment. As adults, students, and working professionals, I understand you must manage competing demands on your time. We all know that “life happens” but it is important to adhere as closely to the deadlines in the class as possible.

Should you need additional time to complete an assignment, please contact me before the due date so we can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. If arrangements are not made in advance, a late penalty of 10% will be assessed for any assignment submitted 1-7 days past the due date. Assignments will not be accepted after the 7th day. No work will be accepted past the final day of class.

Grading Rubric

An outline for your assignment could look something like this:

I. Introduction

II. Pay for Performance Plans

A. Defining a Pay for Performance Plan

B. Purpose in using pay for performance

C. How to measure the effectiveness of a pay for performance plan.

III. Employee Perspective

A. Advantages

B. Disadvantages

IV. Employer Perspective

A. Advantages

B. Disadvantages

V. Summary and Conclusion