The decision needs to based on the needs of the STUDENTS, not the teachers.

Before anyone can jump on this idea of teacher pay based on test scores, we need to know how this would work. How do you pay special education teachers compared to TAG or AP teachers. Gym teachers compared to math teachers. There is a lot that would have to be worked out.

Good point badger4life.

JustAskMe, good luck getting year-round school. This district won't pay for or settle a contract now. Imagine them trying to settle a contract that was 200, 220, 240 days instead of 190, no way would they want to pay for it. I'm sure the teachers would love to work another 40 days and make $10,000 or more a year. Most already work another job all summer anyway.

let me add one important issue to consider/ IF the need for legislative approval MUST be a contention?
(Who gets $ to process/ evaluate/ and give final approval?) And where do these funds---come from? [new posts to man.]
Things that make yah say, "Hmmmm."

While there may no longer be a "need" for children to be home during the summer, I don't think that year-round school is the answer, and, truth-be-known, if it were made policy, I believe that we would opt for home-schooling or private school. While the fundamentals of education are important to learn, there is also MUCH to be learned from being with those that love and care for you. If parents are 'on the ball' and able to do so, the summer lends itself for children pursuing their interests (bug collecting, mystery writing, athletics), and, allows for relaxed time for family (making meals together, volunteering, etc). I realize that in many families both parents are working, but, to me, summer and weekends are the opportunities to bond with your children and really let them learn about themselves and express who they are within the community. Year-round school would inhibit this, and, the foundation of the soul, in my opinion, is far more important than anything taught in a book.

just ask me.

Doyle to the rescue - better late than never.

There is no longer a viable need for most school kids to have the summer off. After seeing the current generation of kids that are finishing high school, it is obvious that these little-gods could have used more schooling and less pamperred home time.

Securing more fed money for Wisc is one of the last good things Doyle will do for us. The resulting improvement in Wisc education is a gift Doyle will be giving to us for decades to come. It's hard to imagine some bloggers not celebrating this monumental accomplishment by Doyle.

And you expect any stimulus funds for education to be used for education??

View the Wheeler Report for the full release from the Governor's office.
www.thewheelerreport.com

Now if some legislators from his own party will lead the way on his ideas......

The federal government doesn't have any money to give, so Doyle shouldn't take it.

Why do I sense that Diamond Jim Doyle will have a sudden "calling" to be Milwaukee's next Superintendent of Public Schools?

So, Rocky, if I understand you correctly, you say if the teachers are required to work under a pay for performance program they will only cheat and try to work the system?

More money into education is not one of the solutions. We have to start changing the way public school systems are operated.

1. Incentivize the workforce
2. Inject increasing accountability.
3. Decide where to substitute technology for human captial
4. Start paying higher salaries to crucial content area (math and science) teachers. In some districts, we pay physical ed teachers about the same as those math and science teachers. No offense to phy ed educators.
5. Offer more pathways (and incentives) for workers in other professions to enter the education field utilizing their experience and background
6. More empowerment and less bureaucracy

Oh, goody. Tying teacher performance evaluations (read: pay) to test results pretty much guarantees that every teacher will rush to teach more AP or gifted and talented classes. Poor remedial teachers with unmotivated students - they will never receive a good evaluation. This is the equivalent of judging a dentist by how many cavities his patients get.

How about making school choice legal?? If public schools have to compete with the private ones maybe they would beef up their act! Homeschool or send your kids to private school, it's worth it believe me!!!