CONTACT:
Jennifer Mock
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Office: 405-962-7679
Email: jenniferm@okhouse.gov

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 27, 2008) – The Higher Outcomes in Performance and Education (HOPE) Rewards Act for Oklahoma teachers passed out of committee Wednesday.

House Bill 3390 will create a performance pay pilot program for up to 25 schools.

"In the 21st Century, Oklahoma must move past the days of paying teachers based solely on their years of service," said author of the bill Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah. "This bill offers hope and extra rewards for those teachers who are going the extra mile for our children. Our best teachers deserve more than just average pay."

Performance pay for teachers is included on the House Republican agenda for this session.

"We want to empower teachers to take ownership of academic success in their classrooms," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa.

Schools will apply to take part in the program, and those selected will be allowed to craft their plan according to local wants and needs. The plan would have to meet a certain set of criteria, but beyond that the operation will be up to the local school, said Rep. Tad Jones, chairman of the House Education Committee and a co-author of the bill.

"There are no mandates in this legislation—school districts can decide if they want to participate and if they do, they are able to craft a plan around their local needs," said Jones, R-Claremore.

The only requirement in the legislation would be that each plan must include the following components:

Growth in student achievement based on a nationally recognized test, student attendance goals and improvement or gains in graduation rates (this component will make up a majority of the basis for the award/bonus)

Professional development

Collaboration and/or mentoring

Principal and peer review by trained evaluation teams

"Having a pilot program will give us a chance to see if the positive results in student achievement seen in other states with similar performance pay models will translate to schools here in Oklahoma," said Cargill. "I am confident this legislation will not only reward excellence and incentivize success with our teachers, but more importantly, will improve academic achievement."

The legislation passed out of the House Education Committee Wednesday and will next be heard on the House floor.