Education Secretary is QComp-limentary

Today could be the first in a new era of teacher compensation in Mankato Area Public Schools.

Members of the Mankato teachers union are voting this afternoon on whether to accept the district's QComp proposal, which was recently approved by the state. If approved, teachers would receive raises based on meeting individual, school-wide and district-wide goals - instead of experience and education level.

Of indirect importance to Mankato schools is the continued support of performance-pay programs by political heavy hitters at both the state and federal level. Despite its continued status as a political lightning rod (you can read a critical Star Tribune report from February here, and a report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor here) such widepread support for performance-pay programs will help districts feel comfortable that funding will not be pulled from under their feet a year or two into the program.

According to an Education Week blog post, Education Secretary Arne Duncan was in front of U.S. House and Senate members on Wednesday to outline the department's fiscal 2010 budget. During one hearing, Duncan was grilled about his continued support for teacher performance-pay programs, which are slated to receive a huge boost in federal aid.

At the state level, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been fervent in his support for QComp, refusing in the last legislative sessions to dissolve QComp and redirect the funding into other school funds.

As for the vote in Mankato schools today, the result is anyone's guess. The district's 2006 QComp proposal was rejected by teachers.