It pulls together a compensation package based on observation, performance skills, and teacher knowledge. Currently, the 3,400-member Toledo union, which includes 2,700 teachers, has some incentive programs that reward teachers for acquiring additional skills, Lawrence said. I hope there will be some changes in the new contract, or agreement on a concept in the new contract. Members voted against establishing criteria to analyze alternative pay systems in July, at the NEA's annual meeting. Under the new Cincinnati system, the level of education, including any additional credits a teacher earns, still counts in determining salary.
Teachers fall into one of five groups, from apprentice to career level.
Within the categories are steps, similar to the existing system, Beck said. Movement between categories depends on evaluations, and teachers advance to the next step within a category according to years of service. Evaluators use standardized criteria to assess teacher performance. Teachers also submit portfolios, said Beck. Student test scores are not included in evaluation criteria, and teachers can appeal their scores from administrators to a panel of teachers and other administrators.