Report Title:

Merit Pay for Principals

 

Description:

Establishes a merit pay program under which principals are awarded additional pay if their school improves in measurable areas of performance. (HD1)

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

343

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

Relating to education.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is a need to improve student performance in several measurable areas. Standardized test scores, attendance rates, and grade-to-grade promotion rates are three dimensions of student performance and participation that can be quantified and utilized toward the end of judging and improving the quality of lower education.

The legislature further finds that incentives similar to those in business that reward exemplary performance are an effective means of motivating change and improvement in schools. As current levels of performance vary widely, such incentives must be based on improvement rather than on one established degree of achievement. Furthermore, research indicates that principals of schools are in the best position to effect positive changes in the accomplishments of a given school.

Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to establish a merit pay system that augments the existing pay scale of school principals, based on improvement in standardized test scores, attendance rates, and grade-to-grade promotion rates, as well as any other appropriate measurable indicators of student performance.

SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A- Merit pay for principals. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the department of education shall establish a merit pay system for school principals to encourage improvement in school performance.

(b) The merit pay system shall reward school principals for improvement that their schools achieve in measurable areas of performance, including but not limited to standardized test scores, attendance rates, and grade-to-grade promotion rates.

(c) School principals shall be awarded additional pay as an additional percentage of the base monthly salary or, as a lump sum award at the end of the semester or school year or, in another form as deemed appropriate by the department of education."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2020.