Higher grad rates could add to bonuses

The state may also eliminate its writing test, now given in fourth, seventh and 10th grades

RALEIGH -- Teachers could soon get more than just a moral bonus from helping students graduate from high school.

The State Board of Education could agree today to tie teacher bonuses to high school graduation rates as part of an overhaul of North Carolina's school testing program. Elimination of the state's controversial writing tests could also be approved today, in what's being billed as an effort to bring the state's testing program into the 21st century.

"If we're trying to improve the dropout rate and the graduation rate, we have to take a look at it and try something different," said Bill McNeal, former Wake County superintendent and now executive director of the N.C. Association of School Administrators.

McNeal's group is one of several that have come out in favor of the changes since they were floated for public comment in May. The changes are the outgrowth of recommendations from an advisory commission that was formed to review the state's testing program.

Currently, 69.5 percent of the state's high school students graduate in four years. A total of 23,550 students dropped out of school in the 2006-07 school year.

Proponents of adding the graduation rate to the formula say it will show how well high schools are preparing graduates for the 21st century. Teachers can now get bonuses of $750 or $1,500.

Even if graduation rates are included, the bonuses will still focus on test results.

Carole Barber, chairwoman of the math department at Fuquay-Varina High School, said she's willing to be judged on the school's graduation rate. "If it's designed well, I'm willing to put our kids up against anybody else in the state," Barber said.

Sheri Strickland, president-elect of the N.C. Association of Educators, said the state's largest teachers association wants to know more about how the graduation rate would be used.

Today's vote would deal with only the concept of adding in graduation rates, not the implementation of any changes. The details would be handled by an advisory committee, which would offer a specific plan for the state board to vote on later.

Strickland said teachers have been more vocal about other parts of the proposal.

In particular, Strickland said teachers have supported eliminating the state writing tests now used in fourth, seventh and 10th grades. The tests have been criticized over the years as not being a good indicator of a student's writing ability.

"It's not the model I'd use to assess writing," said Paige Elliott, an English teacher at Fuquay-Varina High School and the 2007 Wake County Teacher of The Year.

The tests would be replaced by new writing assignments across all grade levels. It would be up to school districts to offer the assignments.

Overall, Strickland said the teachers appreciate the changes, especially the call to narrow and deepen the state's curriculum. One complaint has been that the curriculum is too superficial.

"The problem is we try to teach a lot of everything in every grade," Strickland said.