Use it or lose it

Gov. Crist's proposal to make the unpopular MAP merit-pay plan more, uh, palatable to teachers will get serious consideration in the state House, Rep. Joe Pickens (left), chairman of the House Education Council, tells The Gradebook.

Last week, Crist unveiled a plan to re-distribute MAP money to participating districts, rather than have that money revert back to the state – an obvious attempt to get more teachers to "voluntarily" sign up (see Gradebook post here). Legislative leaders considered that idea last year, but ultimately decided against it, figuring more districts would take MAP for a spin, said Pickens, R-Palatka.

But they didn't. Only eight of Florida's 67 districts have approved MAP plans (see the list here), which means most of the $147.5 million allocated for the program will go unspent. And that has peeved many lawmakers, who thought they had brokered in good faith with teachers unions only to see them dismiss the performance pay plan out of hand.

"I think you see a little bit of frustration," explained Rep. John Legg (right), vice chairman of the House Education Committee, who also supports the reallocation idea. "When STAR was revised into MAP, there was kind of a verbal agreement that this was a good thing. ... I think they turned it into a political issue and said, 'We're not going to do it now.' They went back on their word."

Pickens said budget realities will temper what happens with MAP, but there is a desire to get more districts involved.

"Obviously, we're not going to spend $147 million that we really don't have over 10 districts," he said. "But I do think that in next year's budget we probably are going to fund the rewards at an amount that is greater than just those 10 districts' pro rate share."

- Ron Matus and Jeff Solochek

Comments

[Concerned]

When will society -- legislators and other -- realize that school are not producing a "commodity?" Teachers can't be paid by measuring how many "widgets" they produce....all the "raw materials" are individualized. Give up MAP as it stands and in a bad budget year, put the $147 million BACK into the EDCUATION funds -- not the general fund for the state. And yes, Rep Legg shoud spend more time in the PUBLIC schools of his district....not the charter school that he heads....

Don't worry, termie. Marco will keep his word and hold education harmless. Right?

MAP will be funded at a low level (maybe $25 million to $35 million). It won't grow significantly after that and will die in a couple of years. Note: the Legisalture has destroyed another (this is about the eight different initiative that has been adopted and abandoned since 1988) teacher performance pay program after forcing implementation with all of the waste of effort and emotions.

With term limits, we will be "blessed" with another legislative initiative in two or three years as though MAP (e-Comp, BEST, 5% bonuses, salary schedule requirement, Stewart program, etc.) never existed.

[terminator]

"they went back on their word"

didn't Legg and his legislative cronies go back on their word by promising to hold education harmless?

MAP should be abolished and the money rolled back into the GR pot for public education.

[Ann E. Mouse]

I also left the business world after a lucrative career. The constant backstabbing by and to my friends was frustrating. I don't understand how people can accept the notion that "It's not personal. It's business." It's bull sh*t is what it is! I do not want to compete with other teachers. We are not in a competitive field. Stop ruining education by trying to force Square Education into a Round Business Model. It doesn't fit.

So Rep. Legg is a little frustrated? Maybe he should talk to some of the teachers in his district. They will tell him about frustrated. Let's start with overcrowded classrooms that parents and teachers have been wanting to see reduced for YEARS!

[Leo]

When will lawmakers realize that teachers do not think like business people do? I left the biz world in 2002 to get into the classroom, mainly because I was tired of competing against the people sitting in the cubicle next to mine. I could not trust them. I love teaching. I like the people I work with. No one is trying to get ahead of you. We all want to do the job, and get those kids the education they deserve. Sure, there are some rotten apples, but then again, perfection is only a dream.

[Frustratedteacher]

This is such a joke. The more 'affluent' schools will always outperfrom the less affluent school. The good teachers will migrate to those affluent schools leaving the less affluent schools with the weakest of teachers........which is exactly what the Republicans want.........so they can implement their unconstitutional voucher program.

The blog suggests that $147.5 million is allocated for bonuses earned in 2007-2008 when the reality is that no money is currently assigned to the program.

The stated "plan" is to put the needed funding in the 2008-2009 budget. The Governor recommended $120 million. Funing the 8 districts that have approved plans will take much less than $50 million.