Pay raises for good teachers, but not for bad teachers

"Most Oklahomans do support raises … for good teachers," the state's largest newspaper notes today in an editorial.

But blanket pay raises are typical in schools — and potentially counterproductive. A 2014 study by The New Teacher Project noted lockstep teacher pay can actually encourage poor-performing teachers to remain in school while incentivizing good teachers to leave.

"The amount of taxpayer money that goes toward rewarding poor teaching is staggering," the report said. "Last year, schools in the U.S. spent a conservative estimate of $250 million giving pay increases to teachers identified by their districts as ineffective." A true performance-pay program that financially rewards good teachers could resolve that problem.