More than 1,600 Educators at Participating High Schools, Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12), and K-12 Schools Will Receive Bonuses for Meeting Performance Targets
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein today congratulated more than 1,600 New York City high school educators who earned a total of $5.1 million in performance bonuses for significantly improving student achievement in high schools, secondary schools (grades 6-12), and K-12 schools. Nearly 1,400 teachers, guidance counselors, paraprofessionals, and other members of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) at 20 high-needs high schools and three high-needs secondary schools that met Progress Report targets will receive bonuses totaling $3.5 million as part of the school-wide performance bonus program. Principals and assistant principals at 63 high schools, secondary schools, and K-12 schools earned bonuses of up to $25,000 each for achieving Progress Report scores in the top 20 percent citywide. The bonuses awarded to these principals and assistant principals totaled $1.4 million. Principals and assistant principals at an additional 17 schools participating in the school-wide performance bonus program qualified for bonuses totaling $217,000.
“These dedicated educators are raising expectations and improving achievement for students in our highest-needs schools and this program allows us to recognize their outstanding work,” Chancellor Klein said. “Thanks to their efforts, more students than ever before are mastering the skills they need to graduate on time and have a real shot at success.”
School-wide Performance Bonus Program
Teachers and other UFT members at 40 of the City’s highest-needs high schools, secondary schools, and K-12 schools participated in the second year of the school-wide performance bonus program. Schools received bonuses for their teachers and other UFT staff if they met student performance targets set at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. Of the 40 schools, 20 met their performance targets and will receive bonus payouts equivalent to $3,000 for each full-time UFT staff member; three schools met at least 75 percent of their improvement targets and will receive bonus awards of $1,500 for each full-time UFT staff member.
In the first year of the program, teachers and UFT staff at participating high schools and secondary schools qualified for bonuses totaling $6.5 million. In its first year, the program was largely supported with private dollars raised by The Fund for Public Schools. The school-wide performance bonus program is now publicly funded. Bonuses are distributed at the discretion of each school’s compensation committee, made up of the principal, the UFT chapter leader, and two other school staff members
Principal Bonuses
The City’s contract with the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) allows school leaders to earn bonuses based on the success of their students as reflected in school Progress Reports. Principals of schools whose Progress Report scores are in the top 20 percent citywide receive bonuses of up to $25,000.
School bonuses will be awarded to principals of high schools, secondary schools, and K-12 as follows:
- principals receive $25,000 if their schools scored in the top 1 percent (four principals); $17,000 if their schools scored in the top 2-5 percent (12 principals); $12,000 if their schools scored in the top 6-10 percent (16 principals); and $7,000 if their schools scored in the top 11-20 percent (31 principals);
- an additional 17 principals who did not qualify for the CSA bonus but whose schools will receive bonuses as part of the school-wide performance bonus program will get a bonus of $7,000 if their schools met their targets (14 principals) and $3,500 if their schools met 75 percent of their targets (three principals).
In all schools where principals are receiving bonuses, assistant principals will receive half the bonus amount that their principals receive. A total of 80 high school and secondary school principals, as well as 160 assistant principals, will receive $1.6 million in bonuses.
Click here to review a list of the schools that qualified for performance bonuses based on the High School Progress Reports.
Click here to review a list of the schools that qualified for performance bonuses based on the Elementary/Middle School Progress Reports (updated to include bonuses for secondary and K-12 schools).