Most School Districts Opt Out Of State’s Merit Pay Plan

AUSTIN (AP) – State officials say that fewer than half of the school districts in Texas have agreed to participate in the state’s new merit pay plan for teachers.

The Texas Education Agency says 442 of the state’s 1,033 districts opted to participate in the$148 millionDistrict Awards for Teacher Excellence program. That’s 43 percent participation.

The participating school districts, which include most of the state’s largest, will share the merit pay money beginning in the 2008-09 school year. State officials said they were surprised that so many districts opted out.

The state plan recommends a $3,000 bonus per teacher for achievement in improving test scores and other signs of student progress. Participating districts must put up a 15 percent match in either local funds or in-kind contributions.

The match is scheduled to increase in future years.

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