South Dakota INCENTIVESplus
OVERVIEW | CONTACT
South Dakota INCENTIVESplus is a financial incentive system that targets educators in high-need schools in mainly rural areas. The system includes professional development and financial incentives to principals and instructional staff based on gains in student achievement.
OVERVIEW
South Dakota INCENTIVESplus is funded by a five-year $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Forty-two Title I elementary and secondary schools in 10 South Dakota school districts currently participate in the INCENTIVESplus project. The program was started during the 2007-08 school year.
South Dakota INCENTIVESplus links performance and teacher pay, offering incentives to schools and individuals that are able to improve student performance.
Money from the INCENTIVESplus project is distributed via a three-tier approach to participating schools and educators.
An outside evaluator will implement a mixed-method evaluation by collecting, analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data. The evaluation will be designed to measure the impact of the incentive system and to evaluate its implementation.
Currently, teacher compensation in South Dakota reflects a very traditional approach. School districts negotiate with teacher unions to establish a salary schedule that sets the base rate for teacher pay with increments for “steps” and “lanes” that respond to years of experience and continuing education. Under this current system, the average teacher salary in South Dakota was $34,673 during the 2005-06 school year.
CONTACT
For more information, contact Dr. Melody Schopp at the Department of Education at (605) 773-5232.
OVERVIEW
South Dakota INCENTIVESplus is funded by a five-year $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Forty-two Title I elementary and secondary schools in 10 South Dakota school districts currently participate in the INCENTIVESplus project. The program was started during the 2007-08 school year.
South Dakota INCENTIVESplus links performance and teacher pay, offering incentives to schools and individuals that are able to improve student performance.
Money from the INCENTIVESplus project is distributed via a three-tier approach to participating schools and educators.
- The first tier will be school-based, with all principals and instructional staff in the eligible schools receiving awards based on student achievement at the school level. Award amounts range from $750 to $4,000.
- The second tier provides individual awards to principals and teachers based on factors such as effective individual performance, individual leadership roles and responsibilities, and classroom increases in student achievement. Award amounts range from $350 to $1,000.
- The third tier is based on recruitment and signing incentives for teachers in hard-to-fill positions within participating schools. Award amount is up to $5,000 per teacher.
- The second tier provides individual awards to principals and teachers based on factors such as effective individual performance, individual leadership roles and responsibilities, and classroom increases in student achievement. Award amounts range from $350 to $1,000.
- The third tier is based on recruitment and signing incentives for teachers in hard-to-fill positions within participating schools. Award amount is up to $5,000 per teacher.
An outside evaluator will implement a mixed-method evaluation by collecting, analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data. The evaluation will be designed to measure the impact of the incentive system and to evaluate its implementation.
Currently, teacher compensation in South Dakota reflects a very traditional approach. School districts negotiate with teacher unions to establish a salary schedule that sets the base rate for teacher pay with increments for “steps” and “lanes” that respond to years of experience and continuing education. Under this current system, the average teacher salary in South Dakota was $34,673 during the 2005-06 school year.
| Participating Schools |
Andes Central School District |
Andes Central Elementary Andes Central Junior High Andes Central High School |
Belle Fourche School District |
South Park Elementary North Park Elementary Belle Fourche Middle School Belle Fourche High School Alternative School |
Bennett County School District |
Martin Elementary Bennett County Junior High Bennett County High School |
McLaughlin School District |
McLaughlin Elementary McLaughlin Junior High McLaughlin Senior High |
Oelrichs School District |
Oelrichs Elementary Oelrichs Junior High Oelrichs High School |
Shannon County School District |
Batesland Elementary Red Shirt Table Elementary Rockyford Lower Elementary Rockyford Upper Elementary Wolf Creek Lower Elementary Wolf Creek Upper Elementary Virtual High School Alternative School |
Smee School District |
Wakpala Elementary Wakpala High School |
Todd County School District |
He Dog Elementary North Elementary O’Kreek Elementary Resource Center Rosebud Elementary South Elementary Spring Creek Elementary Littleburg Elementary Klein Elementary Lakeview Elementary Todd County Middle School Todd County High School Wanbli Wiconi Tipi |
White River School District |
Norris Elementary White River Elementary Prairie View Elementary White River Middle School White River High School |
Winner School District |
Winner Middle School; |
CONTACT
For more information, contact Dr. Melody Schopp at the Department of Education at (605) 773-5232.