Teacher Evaluation, Performance-Related Pay, and Constructivist Instruction
Educational Policy: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Policy and Practice
Published online on June 21, 2013
Abstract
Using statewide longitudinal teacher survey data collected in 2009 and 2010, this study examined the characteristics of teacher evaluation used to determine performance-related pay (PRP), and the association between PRP and improvement in the practice of constructivist instruction. The study found that 10.9% of middle school mathematics teachers in Missouri received PRP in 2009 and the average amount was US$1,463. The teachers were mainly evaluated by principals who conducted classroom observations and held face-to-face meetings to assess their teaching practice and professional development activities. After controlling for the background characteristics, this study found a modest yet positive association between PRP and improvement in teacher practice of constructivist instruction from 2009 to 2010.