She says the program is unfair. But this teacher isn't touching the money. She doesn't think it's right. Hippie, a longtime Corona High School language arts instructor, is taking a stand against the state's new rewards program that divvies up money to all employees of schools where test scores climbed by 5 percent or higher. It rewards for being in the right place at the right time regardless of how good a teacher you are.
Hippie has company across the state.
He penned a letter to fellow teachers in the county with a sample note they can use to have their checks withheld. Bill Padia, director of the California Department of Education's policy and evaluation division, defended the rewards. He said that school staffs, like any team, will have stronger and weaker members. The state hopes the program will inspire all to strive to improve test scores. Padia said he has heard of the opposition, but state officials are not tracking how many people such as Hippie decline the bonuses, he said.