Crist flexes on teacher bonuses

So much for optional. And so much for Mr. Nice Guy. Last spring, Gov. Crist backed a performance-pay plan that teachers in every district could accept or reject - the Merit Award Program, better known as MAP. And given MAP's heavy reliance on standardized test scores, it was no surprise the overwhelming majority said no. Under that version of MAP, saying no carried no penalties, and the untouched bonus money went back to the state.

But now, Crist wants to make teachers an offer they can't refuse. Under a proposal outlined in the legislative priorities he issued yesterday, teachers can still say no to MAP, but if they do, their district's share of the bonus pie will be re-allocated to teachers in participating districts. In other words, if 10 districts sign up, their teachers get to split the dough that was supposed to go to all 67 districts. (And just to be clear, we're not talking chump change: Crist wants $120 million for MAP this year.)

Clearly, the teachers union is not happy: "I guess this is where he's going to draw a line in the sand," Florida Education Association spokesman Mark Pudlow told The Gradebook today. It's unclear whether lawmakers are lining up, but the Leg's Republican majority has been solidly supportive of merit pay. Said Pudlow: "It's pretty clear that the merit pay direction is the only one that some lawmakers and some political leaders are are going to use to increase salaries, even though we're below the national average."

- Ron Matus, state education reporter

Comments

[terminator]

10:29
you've already admitted I'm right by saying you predict MAP will be reduced to $70-80 million (down from an original $140 million several years ago to $120 million last year).
hang on to your hat there school district minion, FEA is sharpening up it's sword and we'll be ready to chop some heads off come session.
most likely we'll see significant reductions in the MAP program, school recognition program and a small whack to NBC mentor bonuses.
I wouldn't have any problem eliminating the SAC allocation. Those are merely Principal slush funds.
good ole Termie sure does get under your skin there bureaucrat!

[Steve]

just wait until after the 10 districts impliment their plan. When it turns out like Orange county's train wreck, there will be no legislator that will back it for fear their district will look just as foolish. No one in the US is attempting to impliment what Florida is attempting. We are at the bottom because of our legislators.

terminator makes another prediction.

MAP is gone! MAP is gone! MAP is gone!

Wait a minute, when have any of terminator's predictions come true? I predict (mine are usually at least close) that MAP will get funded in 2008-2009 at about $70-80 million. I predict that teachers lead money will get cut to $100 per teacher and the excellent teaching program will get cut to 5% bonuses for both having the certification and for providing mentoring services. I also predict that (unfortunately) the Legislature will adopt the Governor's recommendation to fold two categoricals into the FEFP which has the impact of moving state mandated expenses into funding sources that are funded half by local property taxes.

But, I defy terminator to place a link to any previous post of his on the site where a prediction that he made actually came true. I started joking about this months ago, but it is starting to get seriously funny that he is NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER right. He needs to go to Vegas and have Marco bet against him. We could save the entire budget of the state by betting the treasury against whatever terminator predicts will happen.

Actually, terminator, it is the FEA's excellent teacher program that will get cut in half at best during the 2008-2009 year. MAP will be fully funded for the 8-10 districts that will be determined (on March 1) to have a compliant plan. It won't take $120 million to accomplish that end.

I would plan to have the teachers lead money reduced to $100 or zero next year as well.

Personally, I would like to see the $10 per student to the SAC committees eliminated as this is a total waste of money. This is Legislatively mandated "administrative" expense which will be followed by a 65% solution decrying administrative expenses.

[Fed Up Reading Teacher]

I hope this does go through.... double my bonus!

[Sidney]

He is going to be looking at a MAP back to St. Petersburg after his term is over. Hope that he doesn't land in Washington as VP.

[terminator]

expect MAP to get watered down or completely eliminated in the final budget.
Pickens has already pretty much indicated it's on the chopping block.
MAP is a frill and will go first before any other cuts to K-12.

Charlie is a total idiot and knows nothing about ed policy.