by David Safier
Matthew Ladner released his 28 page pamphlet, "New Millenium Schools" last week. I find it to be a serious, intelligent, well researched document which, while I disagree with it in a number of places, presents a plausible alternative educational strategy. This is an action document that suggests a model for a charter school that would attract top quality teachers by paying them high salaries while increasing class sizes. There's no politicking by Ladner here. This is an honest proposal, so I'll give it the respectful, careful scrutiny it deserves.

Ladner's basic proposal is for data driven merit pay on steroids. He wants to reward teachers based on the amount their students grow academically while in a teacher's class compared to their progress during previous years. Teachers whose students show a high rate of growth are rewarded with higher salaries, and on top of that, all teachers are rewarded if an entire school meets an overall growth goal. Teachers who have proven themselves to be "master teachers" can request extra students in their classes and get a bonus for each additional student. In this school, teachers have the potential of earning six figure salaries.

The hoped-for result is a school which is a magnet for excellent teachers. Since class sizes will increase, teachers will earn higher salaries than in other schools without an increase in the cost per student.

This is a simplified but, I hope, reasonably accurate summary of the basic idea Ladner proposes. I would be genuinely interested in seeing an Arizona charter work toward this model. If the theoretical model works in the real world of the classroom — and that's a big "if" — it could provide a viable educational alternative for some students. That's one of the strengths of charter schools. A potentially good idea doesn't have to be good for everyone. It only has to work for the students enrolled. And if it doesn't work well, the charter school can shift gears, or close.

That being said, I want to look at Ladner's ideas more carefully and with a more critical eye after the jump. Click on the link if you're interested.