Houston teacher merit pay scheme dumped

The Texas state legislature has changed its mind about Houston's merit pay scheme for teachers, reports ROB DURBRIDGE.

Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop faces an uphill battle to win community and teacher support for her performance pay plan. Australian school system employers in both sectors have rejected the idea. Even research conducted by the Australian Centre for Educational Research for the federal Department of Education, Science and Training was cool. Unsurprisingly, the Bishop plan is modelled on a Bush Administration scheme to introduce merit pay in United States schools, that, according to peak American teacher union body the National Education Association (NEA), replaces experience-based progression and union collective bargaining. Recent events in Houston may provide Julie Bishop with a glimpse into the future for her plan. Houston has what it calls 'a Texas-Sized School District' with the largest public school system in the state and the 7th-largest in the United States. It operates 306 campuses and employs 12,300 teachers and 17,000 support staff. More than 6000 Katrina and Rita hurricane victims enrolled in Houston schools and remain displaced.

Texas is a 'right to work' state where teachers cannot strike or collectively bargain and where the largest teacher union, the Association of Texas Professional Educators, supports these laws and opposes the Texas branches of both the NEA and the American Federation of Teachers. This is George Bush territory, and the federal government has promoted merit pay through incentive funds to encourage the establishment of schemes to break down 'step and column' experience-based pay systems.

Bigger than Texas

The scheme had three 'strands'. One rewarded improvements in school test scores compared with other schools with similar demographics, another compared student progress on a standardised achievement test and a third measured progress on a test of knowledge and skills.

Critics from the unions opposed the scheme from its introduction on the grounds that paying teachers for test scores had not been shown to improve student learning. They also cited the history of Houston and testing. According to the New York Times, a 1999 investigation found four Houston schools guilty of cheating and seven more evidenced irregularities in the rigorous statewide testing employed in the state. Teachers were fired and principals demoted or reprimanded following investigation by the Texas Education Agency.

Nevertheless, in January 2007 the cheques began to arrive with 42 teachers being publicly commended by the Board, receiving more than $6000 in bonuses. The Houston Chronicle reported Jeri Jans, a 5th grade teacher at Pilgrim Elementary saying, "This is what I call appreciation," as she held an envelope with her $6150 bonus. "I'll be enjoying my steak dinner later on."

Union members big winners

"This is one of the worst things I have seen done for Houston teacher morale," she said, and drew attention to the inequities in payments. For example, more money went to Bellaire High School than any other campus. At Bellaire, 166 employees shared $243,590 in bonus pay. That's more than four times the amount of money that went to the similarly sized Westside High School, where $55,650 was split among 31 employees.

Even some teachers who earned bonuses had complaints. "If you've got the money, then just give it to us in our salaries," said Lisa Auerbach, an English as a second language teacher at Herod Elementary who received $1025. "We go to work at 7. We come home around 4 or 5. Don't make us jump through hoops."

Secrets of success

"As far as my classroom, I don't let the children use 'can't.' I tell them that they can," she said. "You must show your students that you love them," she added, "and once you show them that you love them and appreciate them, they'll work for you." As for her newfound cash, she plans to relax on a cruise.

However, on March 30 the Texas State House voted to scuttle the merit pay plan in favour of across-the-board pay rises for teachers and other school workers in the state. The Republican-dominated State Senate, which supports the Bush merit pay policy, has deadlocked the state budget on the issue at the time of going to press.

Education votes count

"House members who once pushed merit pay as a way to play favorites among teachers and open the door to vouchers voted with one eye on the success groups like the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and Texas Parent PAC [political action committee] had against their colleagues last year and the other eye on their own re-election campaigns next year," Democratic consultant Kelly Ferro said.

Rob Durbridge is AEU Federal Industrial Officer.

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Last Modified: 03 May 2007