Teachers to get cash for success

Charleston County teachers who improve their students' academic performance compared with similar students nationwide will receive cash rewards this year in a new program announced Thursday by School Superintendent Nancy McGinley.

The Teacher Outstanding Performance program will evaluate teachers' performance based on their students' growth during the school year, and 89 teachers will be recognized and given up to $500 each in May based on the gains made by their students.

McGinley unveiled the program during her second annual State of the Schools address before about 300 educators, business leaders and community members.

"We are changing our culture so that teachers are celebrated, rewarded and developed based upon results in the classroom," McGinley said. "TOP is a huge step for us as a district moving in that direction."

The school district will compare its second- through fifth-graders' test scores on the Measures of Academic Progress test with a group of similar students nationally. Teachers who had at least 80 percent of their students meet the growth goals when compared with the nationwide comparison group in English and or math will be rewarded. Officials plan students nationally. Teachers who had at least 80 percent of their students meet the growth goals when compared with the nationwide comparison group in English and or math will be rewarded. Officials plan to expand the program to more grades next year, and the money for the rewards was donated.

The TOP plan is similar to state and national efforts to move toward a pay-for-performance system for teachers. Some South Carolina school districts already use performance-pay programs, such as the Teacher Incentive Fund and the Teacher Advancement Programs, but neither has been implemented locally.

Fourth-grade teacher Sara Burton is one of the 89 teachers who will be recognized for the growth her students made. Burton teaches at Goodwin Elementary School in North Charleston, where two of her co-workers also will be rewarded. She thought this was a great way to acknowledge teachers for their low- and high-performing students' academic gains. Although some of her lowest-achieving students didn't score on grade level, they still made progress during the year, she said.

But before teachers are held accountable for their students' scores on the Measures of Academic Progress test, she said they need to be taught how to interpret and use the results.

"They really need to understand how MAP is different than (the state Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test)," Burton said.

McGinley spent a large portion of her 40-minute speech thanking the district's community and business partners and touting the district's accomplishments this past year.

Both the use of the downtown Charleston Marriott room and breakfast were donated to the district.

Reach Diette Courrégé at 937-5546 or dcourrege@postandcourier.com.