Despite unions' knee-jerk opposition to any plan that takes teacher performance into account when setting salaries and determining raises and bonuses, teachers around the country are warming to the idea. For instance, the Washington Post's Jay Mathews writes about the increasing popularity of National Board Certification, which, according to some educators, is "the single most powerful merit pay system in public education today." Fred Lampazzi, a National Board certified teacher in Fairfax County, Virginia, said that he applied for this mark of distinction because he "felt that [he] was a very good teacher who takes pride in understanding the pedagogy of teaching, and [he] wanted affirmation of [his] abilities from a rigorous evaluation process." In La Crescent, Minnesota, where a pilot pay-for-performance plan has been in place for four years, teachers get an annual raise only if they fulfill performance goals. There, according to Brian Bakst of the Associated Press, "teachers are trying hard to prove they're worth the money, from more frequent student testing, to emailing parents, to trying out different styles for their students." Education Week reports that pay-for-performance plans have now been proposed in at least 5 states, including Minnesota, Texas, and California. And, while the NEA and most of its state affiliates maintain an anti-merit pay stance, arguing that such programs can be "too subjective," the union seems to be losing allies—including some affiliates and local branches. Bill Walsh, of the Minnesota Department of Education says, "When we talk to local unions about what [pay-for-performance] means for their teachers, we get more excitement." According to Bakst, even the Minnesota PTA "favors blending the traditional system with bonuses for superior teaching performance." As Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty remarked recently, most people are beginning to realize that performance pay is "not meant to be a punishment. I think we're all big enough to realize the system we have now is outdated."
"Governors seek new teacher-pay methods," David J. Hoff, Education Week, February 2, 2005
"Teachers warm to idea of performance pay," Brian Bakst, Associated Press, February 8, 2005
"For elite U.S. teachers, cachet and more cash," Jay Mathews, Washington Post, February 8, 2005