Education Leaders in North Carolina’s school system are searching for strategies to attract and retain teachers. One option is to compensate employees depending on their performance.
First in the nation, if North Carolina goes forward with its plan. Merit incentives and pilot schemes similar to this have been attempted in other states and districts, but none have been implemented nationwide and only on the basis of merit.
Teacher efficacy would be measured, which seems like an excellent concept, but how can you do that??” Justin Parmenter, a 7th grade English teacher, stated.
The Professional Educator Preparations and Standards Commission submitted this merit-based compensation plan to the State Board of Education in April. A teacher’s efficacy would be assessed using a variety of methods, including standardized examinations, peer and principal evaluations, and surveys of students.
However, there are many who are concerned that judgment may be rendered in a biased manner.
As a result, teachers are compensated on a variety of factors that they are unable to control, which might result in “unfair measures of who they are as a teacher.”
The new approach, on the other hand, places less weight on the expertise of seasoned instructors, which may be beneficial in certain cases.
When it comes to school partnerships or lobbying for the needs of schools, “they train younger teachers, they have long-standing ties with community people that make them a useful resource,” Parmenter said.
During the following three months, meetings of the education subcommittees will continue. The objective is to have the State Board of Education review the plan before submitting it to the General Assembly, which is expected to take place in early 2023.
