Former D.C. schools chief to address merit pay
Posted: Feb 01, 2011 1:57 PM PSTUpdated: Feb 01, 2011 1:57 PM PSTTALLAHASSEE: The chairman of the Senate's education committee is setting the stage for a lengthy debate over teacher pay by inviting former D.C. public schools chancellor Michelle Rhee to testify before his committee next week.
State Sen. Steve Wise, R-Jacksonville, who filed legislation late Monday that would partially base teacher salary bumps on test scores and allow school boards to put new hires on one-year contracts, has invited Rhee to appear before the Senate Pre-K-12 Education committee to talk about her experience in trying to change teacher tenure and pay in the Washington public schools in an effort to boost student test scores.
"I'm interested in hearing from her," Wise said, noting that unlike him, Rhee is a Democrat. "It's kind of interesting because kids -- I don't think the kids are Republican or Democrat. They're just kids."
Rhee gained fame, admirers and plenty of enemies in her attempt to shake up the D.C. public schools under
