A variety of sources in Dayton make the point that since charter schools focus on outputs rather than inputs, they should not be required to hire certified teachers. Well, one of the ideas of charter schools is to find out. Fifty-five percent of the Federation's 3,100 members voted for the plan, which has been the subject of much discusssion since it was proposed earlier this year. For details about the plan, see our Performance-Based Pay issue page. Kudos to the district and its teachers for taking this big step forward.
Teachers are also eligible for bonuses based on improvements in school performance.
John Grossman, president of the union, predicted that no teacher will volunteer for the Performance Advancement System if it uses proficiency tests to gauge performance, though this would mean passing up the chance at a bonus with no risk of losing money. Last week we reported on Ed Trust's new report, which found that the lowest performing schools attract the most poorly qualified teachers. A new study by the Columbus Dispatch using data provided by the Ohio Department of Education found that the least experienced teachers are most typically found in failing schools in the Buckeye state. That's because the hiring process, as dictated by teacher union rules, practically guarantees that those teachers with the least seniority who still have not found a job by mid-summer will be assigned to those schools with remaining vacancies, which are invariably the lowest performing schools. The district superintendent and the union are working to develop incentives to entice more qualified and experienced teachers to these schools.