OGT News: Rewarding teachers: bonus pay for improved test scores?

ABC World News is posing a question for Internet users and viewers: Should teachers be rewarded with cash bonuses for improving students' standardized test scores? Click to register an opinion.

Scores on standardized tests such as the Ohio Graduation Test have become such a vital part of school district assessment nationwide that the federal government is starting a Teacher Incentive Fund for schools in at-risk communities. The fund will pay cash bonuses as a reward to teachers who improve student test scores.

The feds awarded the first $42 million of a $94 million program as a motivational force - similar to the bonuses executives in big corporations receive for jobs well done.

A Houston teacher was interviewed for the ABC News segment. Standardized test scores have improved at her school, despite its enrollment of mostly kids from poor neighborhoods. The teacher could earn a $3,000 bonus if test scores in her classroom improve. Texas is sponsoring a $300 million experiment to see if teacher bonuses produce better standardized test scores. Houston schools have improved test scores 10 points in recent years, while nationally test scores have dropped by seven percentage points.

Twenty-three other states and the District of Columbia are trying similar plans for rewarding teachers with cash bonuses when test scores improve.