How Springfield's proposed merit pay plan would work
Under the previous system, teachers received raises based on the number of years they have worked and their level of education. Under the proposed system, teachers could get raises in two ways: annual pay increases based on a principal's review of their work, and promotions that move them from one professional category to another.
Teachers could get annual pay raises of 2.5 percent to more than 5 percent depending on the school principal's review; teachers receiving poor reviews could be denied raises. Teachers could also boost their pay by earning a promotion based on a district committee's evaluation of their work.
The committee would consider the teacher's knowledge and skills, attendance, and the performance of their students on district tests or other forms of achievement.
Most of the evaluation would be based on teachers' skills, but student performance would count as 25 percent of the score for a teacher to earn a promotion.
The professional levels and their requirements:
Level 1: Provisional/Competent teacher
Annual salary: $36,000 to $43,800
Experience: zero to seven years
Teacher attendance: 95 percent
Student performance: At least 50 percent to 60 percent of students must be proficient on district tests
Level 2: Accomplished teacher
Annual salary: $45,000 to $55,700
Experience: At least five years; master's degree required
Teacher attendance: 96 percent
Student performance: 70 percent of students are proficient on district tests
Level 3: Distinguished Teacher
Annual salary: $51,700 to $59,900
Experience: Seven years or more, master's degree, willingness to work in a low-performing school
Teacher attendance: 97 percent
Student performance: 90 percent proficient on district tests; or more than 60 percent moving from the lowest quartile to proficient
Level 4: Expert teacher
Annual salary: $60,400 to over $70,000
Attendance: 97 percent
Student performance: Must show 90 percent proficient on final assessments over two years or get more than 60 percent of students moving from lowest quartile to proficient 