Wednesday, August 22, 2001
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Wednesday, August 22, 2001 |
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Four Fayette schools seek 'Pay for Performance' As a new school year begins, students will not be the only ones rated on their classroom performance. Four Fayette schools have been approved by the Georgia Department of Education to participate in the 2001-2002 Pay for Performance program: East Fayette Elementary, Fayette Middle, Flat Rock Middle and Rising Starr Middle. This year will mark the fourth time that East Fayette has participated in the program. In fact, it is the only school in the county to be approved to take part in the program four times. The PfP program provides a group incentive award to schools that demonstrate exemplary performance and collaboration. The program is open to all K-12 public schools in Georgia. PfP awards are made to schools rather than to individuals. The program is conducted in accordance with state law and state Board of Education rule. To attain a PfP award, a school must identify and subsequently meet a comprehensive set of exemplary performance objectives. Performance objectives must be developed in four categories: academic achievement, client involvement, educational programming and resource development. Schools with approved applications have a school year to achieve performance objectives. At the end of the school year, a final report must be submitted which documents the status for each performance objective in the approved application. For schools receiving awards, certified personnel employed during the implementation year must determine by consensus how the awards are to be spent. Currently, East Fayette, along with Oak Grove Elementary, Peachtree City Elementary and Rising Starr Middle, are waiting to learn if they will receive Pay for Performance awards for their participation in the program during the 2000-2001 academic year. East Fayette is the only school in the system to receive two awards. In 1998, the school received $82,000 that it used to purchase computers and printers for every classroom. The school earned another award in 2000 that amounted to $110,000. The majority of that award was divided among all faculty and staff at the school as an incentive for meeting their objectives. Part of the award money also was used to enhance technology at the school. "I believe everyone students, teachers and staff members benefits from the program because it forces us to work together as a team to reach a common goal," said Faith Hardnett, principal of East Fayette Elementary School. If the school wins its third award, Hardnett said, the money once again will be used toward technology and teacher incentives. "If we do get [the award] we don't know how much it will be but part of the money will go toward enhancing technology training that teachers have already received. Teachers will learn how to use PowerPoint and then teach the children how to make PowerPoint presentations," Hardnett explained. Having participated in PfP three times and received awards twice to date, Hardnett has been asked by other schools and school systems to consult with them on their application process. In Fayette, she has worked with Huddleston Elementary, Peachtree City Elementary and Rising Starr Middle schools as well as the Coweta County School System and systems in several south Georgia counties. "This is something I really enjoy doing," said Hardnett. "I think PfP is such a great program. I wish everyone who is selected to participate could get an award."
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