Benefits of Merit Pay Unclear
As Chicago Public Schools officials begin to shape a new system of merit pay for principals, experts say there are important lessons to be learned from cities that have experimented with similar initiatives.
As he had promised during the mayoral campaign, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that CPS would implement a $10 million merit pay program for principals next year, which would be partially funded with private money.
Recent research suggests there is no clear link between bonuses and improved student performance, but politicians and administrators continue to push for merit pay in the nation’s school systems.
“It’s an idea that keeps coming back,” said Julie Marsh, the lead researcher for a study on New York City’s