Bonuses, longer wait for tenure among changes in education commissioner's overhaul
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
Education commissioner Bret Schundler laid out his vision for sweeping overhaul of New Jersey public schools Friday, including giving bonuses to the best teachers, letting teachers launch their own schools, and making students’ academic progress count for at least half of a teacher’s evaluation.
To earn tenure, a new teacher would have to wait five years, instead of the current three, and would have to be deemed effective for at least three of those years. The commissioner also wants to give bonuses to lure the most effective teachers to work with at-risk students in the most challenging classrooms.
Some of these changes require legislative approval. He hopes that by June 1, lawmakers will pass a general statement requiring that student learning be made a key part of awarding pay and promotions to teachers and principals. That step would bolster the state’s chance to win $400 million in federal grant money in the contest known as Race to the Top.
The New Jersey Education Association has long fought against merit pay and using student performance to measure teachers. But Schundler said doing so will boost accountability for schools and teachers.
FILE PHOTO
Education commissioner Bret Schundler
Some of these changes require legislative approval. He hopes that by June 1, lawmakers will pass a general statement requiring that student learning be made a key part of awarding pay and promotions to teachers and principals. That step would bolster the state’s chance to win $400 million in federal grant money in the contest known as Race to the Top.
The New Jersey Education Association has long fought against merit pay and using student performance to measure teachers. But Schundler said doing so will boost accountability for schools and teachers.