A new study from Vanderbilt University suggests linking teacher pay to student test scores doesn’t result in higher student achievement. That sort of performance bonus is a key piece of many school reform proposals.
The study tracked middle school math teachers in Nashville schools for three years. Half of the participants were offered bonuses of up to 15-thousand dollars if their students’ test scores went up. The greater the improvement, the higher the bonus. In all, the study paid out more than a million dollars in incentives. But there were similar improvements in classrooms taught by teachers who weren’t eligible for bonuses. In the end, study director Matthew Springer says incentives didn’t seem to make a difference.
“We wish we could step up here today and say ‘look, there are these great big effects and the world’s going to change.’ It’s not going to happen today.”
The study is considered to be the first scientific look at whether teacher incentives work. It was commissioned by the US Department of Education five years ago. Since President Obama took office, his administration has encouraged states to adopt teacher incentive plans. After the report’s announcement, the Associated Press reports a spokesperson for the department criticized the study, saying its focus was too narrow.
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