School & District Management News in Brief

Baltimore Contract Embraces Merit Pay, More Teacher Input

By McClatchy-Tribune — October 05, 2010 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A new Baltimore teachers’ contract, announced last week and headed to union members for a ratification vote this month, is being hailed as one of the most progressive in the nation.

It would link teachers’ pay, in part, to their students’ performance, and do away with “step” increases that are based solely on years of experience and education. It also would enable educators to move quickly through the ranks, earn up to $100,800 a year, and give them more input on the working conditions in their schools.

City schools Chief Executive Officer Andrés A. Alonso described the contract as a “huge, monumental shift” for the district, noting that many of the stipulations are unprecedented in their focus on teacher effectiveness. “Right now, teacher compensation has nothing to do with whether they are effective,” Mr. Alonso said. If teachers are producing results in the classroom, they “shouldn’t be waiting years to reap the rewards for the work that they do.”

Andrés A. AlonsoCEO of Baltimore City Public Schools

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, which represents Baltimore educators, called it “the most professional contract I have seen.”

Under the changes, the city would give its 6,000 teachers an automatic 2 percent pay increase in the first year of the contract, which would raise the starting salary for a teacher in the district to $46,774. Teachers also would get a $1,500 stipend for signing the contract, to be paid using the recently passed federal jobs bill.

In the second and third years, teachers could receive up to a 1 percent increase and a 1.5 percent raise, respectively. However, those increases would be based on student performance, teacher evaluations, and professional development.

The contract sets up four steps for teachers to attain: standard, professional, model, and leader. In three years, a teacher who becomes a lead teacher—and there would be only one per building—could earn up to $100,800, or about as much as a principal.

State schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said she hopes other districts will adopt similar contracts.

A version of this article appeared in the October 06, 2010 edition of Education Week as Baltimore Contract Embraces Merit Pay, More Teacher Input

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management School Counselors Face 'Role Ambiguity.' This State Tried to Clarify Matters
New York's new regulations didn't always change how principals viewed or interacted with school counselors, research finds.
5 min read
Man trapped in maze.
Man trapped in maze.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
School & District Management Women of Color Bring Special Strengths to the Superintendency, New Research Suggests
They have deep expertise in instructional leadership and a facility for working with stakeholders and managing thorny social issues.
4 min read
Image of diverse faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management 3 Principles to Help School and District Leaders Build Better Relationships With Teachers
Communication, capacity building, and a willingness to fail are key tenants of relationship-building, school and district leaders say.
2 min read
051223 Lead Sym Alyson 2 jb BS
Chris Ferenzi for Education Week
School & District Management This Principal Says It's Critical to Infuse Students' and Teachers' Days With Joy
Part of a school leader's role is to guard against outside distractions so teachers can focus on kids, says Salome Thomas-EL.
2 min read
051223 Lead Sym Caitlynn jb BS
Chris Ferenzi for Education Week