Chatham County teachers and teacher assistants will be eligible for bonuses of up to $1,000 a year if student test scores rise, making the district the only one in the state with a system-wide teacher incentive program, county leaders say.
The state had an incentive program that gave teachers bonuses up to $1,500 when a school’s test scores improved, but the program ended in 2009 when the money ran out during the recession.
Chatham County Schools’ program, approved as part of the county budget this week, offers $1,000 bonuses to teachers and $500 to teacher assistants if their school exceeds expected growth in test scores, school board Chairwoman Karen Howard said.
If a school meets expected growth, based on targets the state sets before the school year, then teachers will receive $500 bonuses and teacher assistants, $250 bonuses.
“We’re hoping that teachers thinking about leaving the district will change their minds and stay,” Howard said.
County commissioners said increased county sales tax revenue will pay for the program’s projected $575,000 cost.
