25% dropout rate statewide
Julie Jordan and Robin Parker with Gov. Bryant
For those concerned that the plan is merely a way to reprimand, Jordan said, “It’s not all about the ‘gotcha’ for the teacher. It is about finding where teachers need to improve … so that they can improve what’s happening in the classroom and the results for the students.” A number of new educational practices and initiatives will be introduced in the coming years, with one of the largest being the new Mississippi Statewide Appraisal Rubric, or M-STAR. With M-STAR, teachers will receive a comprehensive review, including planned and surprise classroom visits, evaluation of planning materials and analysis of student test scores. Jordan feels the new pay system and M-STAR logically connect. “The objective of merging M-STAR with the compensation system is to encourage more effective teaching practices, reward those who excel and thus improve student outcomes for all children in Mississippi.” The proposed performance-pay system will go before the legislature in the current session with plans to pilot it in several districts around the state. Depending on the actions of the legislature and the implementation of the districts, Mississippi may very well have a new educational landscape in the near future, and according to Jordan and other RCU staff, this plan is a step in the right direction. “No matter where teachers start, it’s about getting better at what we’re doing in the classroom.” To read the full report, visit http://www.governorbryant. com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Performance-basedcompensation-Plan.pdf.
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