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January 24, 2009

Area teachers earn bonuses for API scores

By M. Scott Carter

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Teachers in Moore and Norman will receive bonus checks this semester because of their school's academic performance, the state school superintendent said Friday.

Sandy Garrett, state superintentent of public instruction, said teachers at five Moore schools -- Briarwrood Elementary, Earlywine Elementary, Eastlake Elementary, Wayland Bonds Elementary and Fisher Elementary -- along with Norman's Cleveland Elementary will receive cash bonuses through a state program which rewards teachers based on their schools' Academic Performance Index (API) scores.

In Moore, teachers at Earlywine, Eastlake, Fisher and Wayland Bonds will receive bonuses for Perfect API scores, along with teachers at Norman's Cleveland Elementary.

Teachers at Briarwood will receive bonuses for having the highest API school.

Garrett said the bonus program, the Oklahoma Academic Achievement Award, pays bonuses to all certified personnel -- including prinipals, counselors and librarians -- who were employed at a winning school for at least one-half of the school year. The bonuses will range from $500 to $3,000.

"We've had a record number of teachers and a record number of schools qualify for the AAA bonuses this year," Garrett said. "It proves that positive incentives work in spurring both teams of teachers and students to reach higher. As we continue to raise academic standards, that is our recipe for success and the exciting dynamic we want occurring in Oklahoma schools."

Last year teachers in 63 Oklahoma public schools qualified for the bonuses.

The school's rankings are calculated on a scale ranging from 0 to 1500. For elementary schools, the score is taken from results on state achievement tests and attendance rates. For secondary sites, dropout and graduation rates are also factors, as well as ACT scores and participation, Advanced Placement credit and college remediation rates in reading and mathematics.

The State Board of Education approved a supplementary budget request in the amount of $2.2 million to be able to pay out the AAA bonuses this semester as prescribed in law. The Legislature appropriated nearly $2.6 million last year for the program but an estimated $4.8 million is needed to fully fund the program this year.

Each teacher working in a school that placed first in each group or who works in a school with a perfect API score will receive a non restricted $3,000 bonus, contingent on funds being available. The bonus for each teacher in second-place schools is $2,000, third place is $1,000 and fourth place is $500.

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