Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
Alabama does not support performance pay. The state does not have any policies in place that offer teachers additional compensation based on evidence of effectiveness.
Support a performance pay plan that recognizes teachers for their effectiveness.
Whether it implements the plan at the state or local level, Alabama should ensure that performance pay structures thoughtfully measure classroom performance and connect student achievement to teacher effectiveness. The plan must be developed with careful consideration of available data and subsequent issues of fairness.
Consider piloting performance pay in a select number of school districts.
This would provide an opportunity to discover and correct any limitations in available data or methodology before implementing the plan on a wider scale.
Alabama recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. Alabama also pointed out that for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years, the state offered schools the opportunity to participate in a pilot program awarding teachers additional compensation for their effectiveness by supporting a performance pay plan. School systems did not take advantage of that opportunity. No new initiatives have been undertaken since then.