Teacher Salaries, Bonuses, and RaisesWhat will your pay be based on as a professional

educator?

By: Naomi Jacobs Fall 2012

Teacher Salary 101…• Do you know what the average teacher salary for your chosen

field is (elementary, middle, high, special ed., etc.) at the national, state, and district levels?

• Before we go further, take a few moments and visit these sites and gather information answering the questions above.• National Level• State Level • Florida Districts (Scroll down the document for a lot of helpful information)

• MOST teachers in the profession today are tenured.

• What does this mean?• After a probationary period, usually of three years, teachers may

become what is known as tenured.• This provides teachers several protections, and can almost

guarantee employment for life.• Read this article from Education.com What Is Teacher Tenure?

• Teacher salaries, from here on out, are being affected and/or determined by various factors.

Teacher Salary 101…

What can affect teacher salary?

Merit Pay

Bonus Pay

Incentives

Merit Pay• Senate Bill 736 was signed into Florida law in March 2011.

• As new teachers are hired, YOU, year-to-year contracts would follow a probationary period. Under Senate Bill 736, your job and salary will be dependent upon annual evaluations that legislation has designed.

• Over half of your evaluations will be based on your students’ learning gains.

• You can get fired if you get: two consecutive unsatisfactory evaluations; two unsatisfactory evaluations within a three year period; three consecutive needs improvement evaluations; or a combination of unsatisfactory and needs improvement evaluations.

• There is both support for and criticism against Senate Bill 736.

Merit Pay

Pros

• Most professions pay based on performance. Merit pay will pay great teachers more and poor teachers less (if they aren’t fired first).

• Teachers will have more incentive (salary) to produce better results.• Merit pay will help recruit and keep the “brightest minds.”

Cons

• Student test scores are only “a narrow piece” of a teacher’s work.• Not all teachers teach tested subjects. What is their pay based on?• Merit pay takes focus away from the real goal: giving “students the best education possible.”• Healthy teacher relationships will be compromised by an “I’m out for myself only” attitude.• Teachers may lie about test results.

The School Recognition Program recognizes high quality public schools.

Section 1008.36 authorizes “greater autonomy and financial awards to schools that demonstrate sustained or significantly improved student performance.”

Some schools may earn a “bonus” if it earns an “A” grade, or improves by at least one letter grade.

Awards are to be distributed equally among classroom teachers in awarded school.

Here is the award list, by county, for the 2011-12 school year in Florida. Take a look at the award amounts…

Use this site to look up school grades within various districts (2-3) that you would consider teaching in. Record your results.

Bonus Pay

Bonus Pay

Pros

• If you work in a high achieving school, you may get an extra bonus each year.• High achieving schools attract good teachers.

Cons

• Not every school gets the same award amount, so not all teachers get awarded equally.• Awarded amount use is voted upon as to how it is distributed (sometimes monies can be set

aside for technologies and such, leaving less for teachers).• Since high achieving schools attract the better teachers, lower achieving schools lose out on

the better teachers.• Sometimes funds get held up and teachers don’t get paid when expected.

Once you receive your initial teaching certification, you have met the minimum requirements to teach.

To stay certified you may have to complete some continuing education requirements.

You can earn a higher salary for higher degrees and in-service training hours.

“National Board Certification is the highest credential in the teaching profession.”

Incentives

Incentives

Pros

• Teachers who continue with their education and stay up-to-date with changes can provide a better educational experience for their students.

• Higher salaries.• Most schools over several developmental courses throughout the year.

Cons

• For many new teachers, YOU, incentives for continuing education and in-service hours will not apply (only tenured teachers).

• College coursework can be very expensive, and pay not compensate costs.

Let’s ReviewWhat have you learned? Your

assignment is to answer the following questions.

1. What was the average pay of a teacher in your chosen field (elementary, high school, etc.) at the national level, state level, and district level?

2. What are at least two criticisms on tenured pay based on the article What Is Teacher Tenure? What are your thoughts on tenure?

3. What bill was signed into law regarding merit pay?

4. What do you like and/or dislike about merit pay? Do you think it is effective in both improving student and teacher performance? Explain your answer.

5. Did the school district you live, work, or may work in earn an award through Florida School Recognition Program?

6. What is the highest credential in the teaching profession called?

Croley, Jennifer. “Teacher Certification @ Continuing Education.” Education.org. n.d. Web. 03.Nov. 2012. http://

www.education.org/career-guidance/teacher-certification-and-continuing-education.html

“CS/CS/SB 736 :Education Personnel.” The Florida State Senate. July 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.

http://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2011/0736/BillText/er/PDF

“Florida School Grades.” Florida Department of Education. 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.

http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/default.asp

“Florida School Recognition Program.” Florida Department of Education. n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.

http://www.fldoe.org/evaluation/geninfo.asp

Works Cited/References

Works Cited/References Cont.

Lane, Marcia. “School ‘Bonus’ Funds for Teachers, Staff Held Up By State.” The ST. Augustine Record. Feb. 2012. Web. 03 Nov.

2012. http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2012-02-18/school-bonus-funds-teachers-staff-held-state

Lewis, Beth. “Pros and Cons of Merit Pay for Teachers.” Elementary Education. About.com. n.d. Web.

http://k6educators.about.com/od/assessmentandtesting/a/meritypay.htm

Robinson, Gerard. “Education Information & Accountability Services Data Report.” Florida Department of Education. Aug.

2011. Web. 01 Nov. 2012. http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/word/tchsldgl11.doc

Rosales, John. “Pay Based pm Test Scores.” National Education Association. n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2012.

http://www.nea.org/home/36780.htm

“Salary for All K-12 Teachers.” PayScale. Oct. 2012. Web. 01 Nov. 2012.

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/All_K-12_Teachers/Salary

“School Recognition Awards-Summary.” Florida Department of Education. n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2012.

http://www.fldoe.org/evaluation/pdf/2011Districts.pdf

“Teacher Salaries.” Teacher Portal. 2011. Web. 02 Nov. 2012. http://www.teacherportal.com/teacher-salaries-by-state

Works Cited/References Cont.