TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hands Off Certified Teacher Bonuses

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 5, 2008

Leave it to lawmakers to try to ruin a smart state program that rewards Florida's most committed teachers.

Some lawmakers are questioning the 10 percent bonus - worth more than $4,000 - that is awarded to teachers who earn their national certification. The reason? The legislators don't think there is enough evidence certified teachers produce students with higher test scores.

It is further evidence of how some shallow politicians judge public schools solely by test scores, without any regard for the challenges teachers face.

If lawmakers take this bonus away, they will be signaling they care nothing about professionalism and quality teaching, much less retaining Florida's best teachers.

Earning certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a long, rigorous process that makes teachers intently examine their teaching methods and demonstrate their skill. It is widely viewed as the most prestigious credential a teacher can earn.

Fortunately for Florida's public school children, more than 8,100 teachers in the state have put themselves through these paces to prove they can meet the highest expectations of their profession.

But state lawmakers seem to be looking for an excuse to cut the program. State Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville and chairman of the Senate's education appropriations committee, is among those questioning whether the teachers should get the bonus if it can't be directly tied to higher FCAT scores.

Wise says he doubts the bonuses, which cost the state $70 million a year, will disappear this year but wants to hold hearings around the state on the issue.

The basis for lawmakers' scrutiny is a single recent study which found mixed results in whether a board-certified teacher produced students with higher test results. But one study is hardly sufficient reason to throw away the entire program.

Moreover, this is misusing FCAT and making it the only mark of a good teacher.

That was never the intent of the test.

With the bonus, Florida makes clear it values those teachers who are devoted to their profession and will assist colleagues in becoming the best teachers possible.

Any attempt to tie board-certified bonuses to FCAT scores would backfire.

Board-certified teachers would no longer want to take assignments in struggling schools whose students traditionally test poorly. And once pitted against non-certified teachers, they'd lose their incentive to mentor others.

Lawmakers ought to have the sense not to dismantle one education program that shows Florida is willing to pay for quality.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT