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$5 billion program would focus on teacher quality
Administration’s goal: Raise the level of respect for the teaching profession—and the quality of teaching in the nation’s schools
The program is called RESPECT, an acronym for Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching.
The Obama administration is hoping that competition combined with cash will encourage states and school districts to improve the nation’s teaching corps.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Feb. 15 announced details of the administration’s proposed $5 billion program for a new Race to the Top-style competition, with states and districts competing for grant dollars to improve teacher quality, during a town hall meeting with teachers. Among the changes the administration is seeking: higher teaching salaries, compensation tied to performance, and more selective and improved teaching colleges.
The program was included in the budget proposal that President Barack Obama sent to Congress on Feb. 15. It is likely to face obstacles in the gridlocked Congress, however, where some Republicans have complained of federal overreach and overlapping programs in education.
Race to the Top, Obama’s signature education initiative, already has awarded more than $5 billion in competitive grants to states willing to enact certain changes favored by the administration.
For more news about teacher quality, see:
States strengthening teacher evaluation standards
Hey, teachers: The Heritage Foundation thinks you’re overpaid
A growing body of research shows the big difference that effective teachers can play in students’ lives, from reducing teenage pregnancies to increasing a student’s lifetime earnings. Duncan frequently notes during speeches that within the next decade, about a million baby boomer teachers will retire, and high-quality teachers are needed to fill those spots. Yet, a report from the McKinsey & Co. global consulting firm found that only about a quarter of new teachers come from the top third of their class. The McKinsey report said prestige and peer group appeal, along with compensation, were factors influencing whether top college students enter teaching.
The proposed competition would focus on both improving the quality of the existing teaching force and better training and recruiting future teachers. Already, some states are enacting some of the changes the Education Department wants, such as awarding tenure based on teacher performance instead of primarily on seniority.
“We need to change society’s views of teaching—from the factory model of yesterday to the professional model of tomorrow—where teachers are revered as thinkers, leaders, and nation-builders,” Duncan said in prepared remarks.
2 Responses to $5 billion program would focus on teacher quality
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shemay
February 17, 2012 at 8:18 pm
I am a veteran teacher and I work incredibly hard. I am very good at what I do and it shows in my students. I am not afraid of an increased emphasis on teacher accountability, but I do think the bigger picture needs to be addresses as well.
Why doesn’t anyone look beyond the classroom? Do schools have leaders who know how to motivate, deliver professional development and thus change the teaching going on in their schools? There are many. many administrators who have no business being in the front office. Shouldn’t we start looking at the top (principals, directors, superintendents) and making changes there? All too often an incompetent teacher becomes and incompetent administrator.
And let’s not forget about the change in our culture? Are we really a culture that values education? Look around, what are the messages our children are getting from sports stars, actors, musicians? Think about who our children look up to and want to emulate. Think about the video games and music videos our young people are being exposed to. Our culture is sick and it is taking our children down with it. You can throw all the money you want at teachers, but they can not change a culture that doesn’t want to be changed.
elokaren
February 19, 2012 at 1:58 pm
Shemay makes very valid points. We need to have protection in any merit pay plan that assures fairness. We can’t allow the “Good Ole Boy” network to rate teachers based on their desire for winning coaches, or their desire to protect their “Buds.”