Customer Reviews

Pay-for-Performance Teacher Compensation: An Inside View of Denver's ProComp Plan

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As the mother of a 12-year-old in Denver's public school system, it's heartening to know that people in a position to effect change put so much effort into trying to get it right. The authors have written an interesting read about what could be a fairly boring topic - the flashes of humor they display probably helped them through some fairly tense moments. I would recommend this book to teachers, administrators, parents, politicians and anyone interested in improving K-12 public education.

Denver's example has launched widespread local innovation in teacher compensation. In this book, Gonring, Jupp and Teske tell the fascinating story of how and why ProComp came into being. In readable, matter of fact prose, they explain the pivotal and distinct roles played by the school board, local and national philanthropists, researchers, consultants, political leaders, think tanks, union leaders, district leaders -- and "dumb luck."

If you are thinking about the role compensation might play in supporting change in your school district, this book can accelerate your understanding of what the conversation might feel like and who needs to be a part of it. It reads like a very short novel, especially if you skip the rather theoretical last chapter.

I hope that subsequent editions of this important work will include research findings on the various impacts of ProComp on student learning, teacher recruitment/retention/satisfaction, and community attitudes toward Denver schools.