Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) supports performance pay.
DCPS' IMPACTplus is a performance-based compensation plan with two methods for rewarding highly effective teachers. Teachers are eligible for an annual bonus based on the school's free and reduced-price lunch rate, student growth based on data assessment and teaching in a "high-needs" subject. In addition, teachers with highly effective ratings are eligible for an increase in salary base. The school's free and reduced-price lunch is taken into account when determining service credit.
However, this applies only to DCPS and is not state-level policy.
Support a performance pay plan that recognizes teachers for their effectiveness.
Whether it implements the plan at the state or local level, the District of Columbia 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.
The District of Columbia recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis. The District of Columbia noted that Race to the Top local educational agencies are required to have evaluation results inform compensation in some way, although they are not required to have performance pay.