Education Expert on MERIT PAY for KC

Proven extremely unsuccessful compared to the performance of other school districts across the country (and the world), the Kansas City school district is in need of serious reform.

Last Thursday Eric Hanushek, an expert on education policy, began a "What Works in Urban Education" series at the KC public library.

The conclusion: MERIT PAY is the answer!

Though Missouri ranked in the 51st percentile nationally for standardized testing, urban schools were performing significantly worse than the state as a whole. As anyone at these schools can testify, many problems (included high dropout rates, performance problems and ineffective, over-budgeted spending) plague the urban districts.

Many try to point to funding, however Hanushek points out: "It is no longer that the suburban districts are spending way more than urban schools." Out of 500 urban U.S. school districts, Kansas City ranked 54th highest for spending. So the real issue is spending this money wisely.

"We must recognize the importance of good teachers, and reward them," Hanushek said. "Everyone from the principals to the parents to the children knows who the good teachers are and who the bad teachers are. We need to get rid of the bad ones."

An increase in funding for teachers across the country has meant an increase for every teacher, not just the good ones. And, by definition, merit pay will correct this!

Improve the structure and they will stay