More schools join teacher merit pay program

Another 30 schools and school districts in Minnesota are joining the state's merit pay program for teachers.

Q-Comp, as it's called, is a voluntary program that requires districts to agree to beef up professional development for teachers and teacher evaluations. It also introduces merit pay for teachers based on their students' academic performance.

In return, Q-Comp schools get extra money from the state. Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said during an announcement Wednesday there's more to the program than the lure of money.

"Even if it was the motive to get more revenue, the process for approving Q-Comp is very robust and very demanding," said Seagren. "So, each of the school districts and charter schools or school sites have to commit to a very comprehensive program, or they can't receive the revenue."

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With these 30 additions, nearly one-third of all Minnesota teachers in the state now teach at Q-Comp schools. The program now totals 51 school districts and 54 charter schools. Gov. Tim Pawlenty pushed for the development of Q-Comp, which won approval in 2005. He says he expects the program will continue after he leaves office next month.

The 30 schools and districts joining QComp include seven school districts and 23 charter schools. They are listed below, along with the amount of additional state funding they'll get during the 2010-11 school year for joining the program.

  • Academia Cesar Chavez, St. Paul ($79,665)

  • Avalon School, St. Paul ($43,225)

  • Cologne Academy, Cologne ($40,964)

  • Concordia Creative Learning Academy, St. Paul ($68,105)

  • East Range Academy, Eveleth ($33,676)

  • EdVisions Off Campus High School, Henderson ($18,346)

  • Ely School District ($139,880)

  • Emily O. Goodridge-Grey Accelerated Charter School, Minneapolis ($39,204)

  • Excell Academy, Brooklyn Park ($119,121)

  • Face to Face Academy, St. Paul ($17,340)

  • Friendship Academy of Fine Arts, Minneapolis ($30,157)

  • Laura Jeffrey Academy, St. Paul ($37,948)

  • Learning for Leadership, Minneapolis ($46,492)

  • Main Street School of Performing Arts, Hopkins ($61,571)

  • Maple Lake School District ($169,507)

  • Minneota School District ($121,940)

  • Minnesota New Country School, Henderson ($27,141)

  • New Discoveries Montessori, Hutchinson ($41,717)

  • New Millennium Academy, Minneapolis ($88,461)

  • Nova Classical Academy Upper School, St. Paul ($251)

  • Partnership Academy, Richfield ($71,121)

  • Prairie Seeds Academy, Brooklyn Park ($138,723)

  • Roseville Schools (already in QComp, adding additional school sites) ($405,860)

  • Sebeka School District ($85,514)

  • Sobriety High, Burnsville ($34,681)

  • Spectrum High, Elk River ($54,283)

  • Spring Grove School District ($83,980)

  • Spring Lake Park School District ($1,251,380)

  • St. Croix Preparatory Academy, Stillwater ($221,404)

  • St. Louis County School Distrcit ($341,042)

  • Stonebridge Community School, Minneapolis ($34,681)

  • Watershed High School, Minneapolis ($21,110)