October 14, 2015                     
Table of Contents
Quality Rate Explained
Feedback on Quality Rated Initiative Recommendations
Timelines for Pre-k Recommendations
Next Steps
Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Compensation
October 14, 2015
 
ERC Teacher Recruitment, Retention, & Compensation Committee Meets

The Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Compensation Committee (TRR&C) of the Education Reform Commission (ERC) met on Oct. 13th. The committee reviewed potential recommendations which members discussed at previous TRR&C meetings. At today's meeting, the members continued to shape the recommendations and discussed the economic impact, recommended action, and rationale for the following items, which are likely to be moved on to the full ERC.

 
Teacher Compensation Models

The committee is recommending the State Board of Education (SBOE) adopt model compensation policies that follow certain guidelines. These guidelines are:
  • Models should respect grandfathering of current teachers into Training and Experience (T&E) unless a teacher elects to opt in to the new compensation system.
  • Models should not significantly weight graduate degrees for salaries. Reimbursement models are preferable.
  • Models should allow additional pay for high needs subjects (such as STEM subjects) and high-needs schools.
  • Models should allow pay for additional responsibilities and moving up on the career ladder scale (such as becoming a master teacher or department head).
  • Models should allow a faster ramp to the median state salary.
  • Models can include signing bonuses for tough-to-fill fields.
The TRR&C committee also recommends that the SBOE require Charter Systems or Strategic Waiver Systems (formerly IE2 Systems) to adopt one of these model compensation policies or develop a robust compensation policy of their own, similar to models created by systems such as Fulton County Schools and Marietta City Schools.
Starting Teacher Salaries
The committee engaged in a lengthy discussion about starting teacher salaries and ultimately stopped short from recommending the $40,000 figure that TRR&C members discussed in prior meetings. Committee members cited concerns about large costs associated with a numerical recommendation and instead shaped language recommending an increase to attract teacher candidates. Some committee members described concern that recommending a dollar amount is incongruous with the ERC'S efforts to move salary decisions to the local school district level and allow more flexibility with teacher pay.   
Potential Teacher Retirement System Changes
 
In a previous meeting, the TRR&C committee had conversations about shifting the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) from a defined benefit plan (the current pension plan) to a defined contribution plan like a 401(k). During this meeting, the committee continued this discussion and set a goal to create a study committee to examine TRS. Committee members were very careful to articulate their support for allowing current TRS members to stay in a well-funded retirement plan but seemed hopeful that study committees would explore the idea of allowing future Georgia educators to participate in a portable 401(k) plan without a 10 year vesting period. They indicated that the number of Georgia teachers who ultimately draw TRS benefits is 28%.  
Overwhelming Education Policies
Pam Williams, the chair of the TRR&C committee and an Appling County educator, presented another recommendation that would protect planning time for educators. The rationale behind this recommendation is that educators are overwhelmed with several new policies including CCGPS, CCRPI, Integrated Math, TKES/LKES, etc. By slowing down with adding additional programs and policies, the committee feels this recommendation could save the state money and increase the morale of educators.
Protecting Planning Time
One of the issues brought up consistently by educators at the educator input sessions held by the TRR&C committee earlier this year is insufficient planning time. The committee is recommending protecting planning time through legislation so teachers are not forced to prepare for lessons after school during their own time.
Student Teaching & Mentoring
Another recommendation from the committee is to extend the amount of time a college student spends student teaching to at least one year with the goal of giving teacher candidates more exposure to real-world classroom experience. The committee is also recommending changing the name of student teaching to "teacher intern" or "teacher candidate."

The committee also shaped a recommendation for a pilot program for student teacher mentors. The program would encourage placement of student teachers in the classrooms of high-performing teachers and enable the supervising teachers to receive additional pay for mentoring.
Teacher Morale Campaign
The committee ended with a brief conversation about teacher morale. Members discussed working with large corporations to highlight the stories of successful Georgia teachers and lift morale of Georgia teachers, which committee members acknowledged is low.
Next Steps
The TRR&C committee set a final meeting for Nov. 9. When setting the date, members mentioned that a November meeting may not be necessary and that finalizing committee recommendations to the full ERC may be accomplished via email.

As the final recommendations are taking shape, now is the time for stakeholders to contact the ERC. Educators should always use their personal, non-school email accounts when contacting policymakers outside of instructional time.

Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs
[email protected]

Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
[email protected]


          


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