When Michelle Rhee was chancellor of the DC school district (2007-10) she implemented a system that rewarded students with monetary incentives if they continuously received good grades. It was an extremely controversial policy which, like Rhee, no longer exists in Washington. However, new monetary incentives are being peddled by the DC district once more. But this time teachers, rather than students, are being targeted. This new move to increase teacher’s wages and offer bonuses based on consistent performance may be a turning point in the teaching profession.

The District of Columbia Public Schools have designed a program called Impact Plus that targets newer teachers who have rated “highly effective” in their jobs. If teachers consistently perform well and their students’ academic results are significant, teachers can earn bonuses from $2,400 to $25,000. In addition to these bonuses, educators are also eligible for permanent pay raises. Since implementing this program, DC public schools have awarded bonuses to 476 of its 3,600 teachers and offered 235 of them large pay increases. Some are now earning $83,000 per year, up from the average $50,000 annually. The main purpose it to reward newer teachers and attract incoming educators to perform at their best and feel valuable in their profession, while incentivizing a reason to stay. 

Of course there is loads of criticism about DC’s newest merit pay system. Over the years, DC has tried to implement similar pay systems based on performance but has continuously met a wall with strong teacher’s unions unwilling to drop traditional pay systems. In order to receive benefits with the Impact Plus program, teachers must sign away some of their union protections. Already this past year, 20% of teachers offered a pay raise turned it down, rather than giving up their union rights, and another 30% offered bonuses did the same. 

It remains to be seen if teachers will adopt this merit pay system altogether but if this catches on, it could offer a new perspective to the education field; teachers will become valued in society which will be reflected in their pay and work they do for our children.