Chairman Brown Proposes Legislation to Recruit Highly Effective Teachers Into Low-Performing Schools

Pilot project would offer range of incentives

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, DC Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown introduced “The Highly Effective Teacher Incentive Act of 2011.”  This bill directs the Mayor to establish a pilot incentive program in four high-need public schools in the District of Columbia.  The incentives will include:

•  A bonus of $10,000 per year each year that the teacher remains in the high-need high school (this is in addition to any bonus resulting from IMPACT);
• Homebuyer and other housing assistance;
• Tuition assistance; and
• Income tax credits

“Teachers often hesitate to teach in low-performing schools,” said Chairman Brown, “because they worry about teaching students whose skills are significantly below grade-level and about challenges with classroom discipline.  But this is exactly why we need experienced, effective teachers in those classrooms – teachers who already have a track record of success.”

 The legislation also directs the Mayor to produce an analysis of waiving IMPACT requirements for highly effective teachers selected for this pilot program. Those teachers would still be subject to evaluation, but would not risk losing their “highly effective” status. 

“Let me be clear,” said Brown, “I support IMPACT as an evaluation system, and I believe that any teachers participating in this program should still be subject to evaluation.  I also believe that we should strongly consider the strategy of allowing teachers to keep their ‘highly effective’ status as an incentive for teaching in a high-need school.” 

 The pilot program would direct highly effective teachers to the highest-need schools in the District – those with a proficiency rate in both reading and math below 40%, and a 75% or higher free and reduced-price lunch rate.  The bill requires that two of the four schools are middle schools.  Teachers would be required to serve in those schools for a minimum of three years, or risk forfeiting the incentives.

 The initiative is part of Chairman Brown’s aggressive effort to transform middle grades education and provide a high quality educational experience for all students in the District.