Anoka-Hennepin teachers approve Q Comp

Teachers at the state's largest school district voted Thursday to adopt the state's merit pay program, which is called Q Comp.

Teachers at Anoka-Hennepin School District approved the district's plan for the Q Comp program with 89 percent of the vote. The proposal needed 75 percent support to pass.

The state Legislature passed a law this year requiring annual teacher evaluations. By approving Q Comp, the district will be able to collect Q Comp funds to cover the cost of the mandated evaluations, said Julie Blaha, Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota president.

"This was a very practical choice for our teachers," Blaha said. "We can either do these annual evaluations with the funds needed to do them well, or take the money from the classroom. Well, the choice is pretty clear."

Teachers in the district could also earn a little more than $2,000 in incentives for student performance under the program, Blaha said.

The Anoka Hennepin teachers agreed to start fully participating in Q Comp in the 2013-2014 school year. The total budget for the program is about $10 million in state and local money.

The Q Comp plan moves to the Anoka-Hennepin School Board for final approval.

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