Performance Pay: New York

Analysis of New York's policies

New York does not support performance pay. The state does not have any policies in place that offer teachers additional compensation based on evidence of effectiveness. 

Recommendations for New York

Support a performance pay plan that recognizes teachers for their effectiveness.
Whether it implements the plan at the state or local level, New York 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.

State response to our analysis

New York pointed out that in addition to Teachers of Tomorrow, the state will be using a portion of its discretionary Race to the Top award to establish an Innovative Compensation Fund for LEAs. These funds are committed to recognizing (through development or leadership opportunities) and rewarding highly effective and effective teachers and principals through supplemental compensation based on the new performance evaluation systems. For example, LEAs could use such funding to provide highly effective and effective teachers with supplemental compensation to serve as mentors and coaches for other teachers and student teachers and to lead professional development programs within the LEA. The state will give priority funding to those highly outstanding teachers and school leaders who are employed in high-needs schools to help retention and ensure the equitable distribution of outstanding educators. New York will also establish a Transfer Fund through which LEAs can provide monetary incentives for highly effective teachers to transfer to high-needs schools within their LEA.