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House adopts ProExcel education package to strengthen teacher evaluation, incentives and induction
Summary
House Bill 381 (ProExcel) passed the House on Feb. 21, 2007. The measure requires district-level teacher-evaluation instruments tied to student-performance growth, funds market incentives for high-need fields and creates leadership and induction supports for educators.
Representative Mann presented House Bill 381 (ProExcel), a multi-faceted education reform bill designed to improve teacher effectiveness and retention. ProExcel contains three primary elements: leadership training for principals, a requirement that each district adopt an effective teacher-evaluation instrument that incorporates student-performance growth measures, and a market-incentive compensation program to address shortages in math, science and special education.
Mann described the bill as the culmination of a year of collaborative work and stressed the need to align teacher-evaluation with measurable student outcomes and to provide new-teacher induction and mentoring to reduce attrition. The fiscal approach included state support so local districts could offer targeted pay supplements (an illustrative figure cited was approximately $5,000 per teacher in identified high-need fields) and a statewide $2.3 million allocation for local needs and induction supports.
Representatives debated the bill27s novelty and potential challenges. Some compared ProExcel to past programs, such as career-ladder initiatives, noting that previous programs lost rigor when incentives became broadly available. Proponents said this bill "puts teeth" into evaluations by requiring district plans that include student-performance measures and by linking mentoring funds to concrete plans and outcomes. Questions also addressed applicability to charter schools and reporting deadlines; the sponsor said charters are public schools and subject to the bill and that accountability reports (with specified dates) will measure implementation and recruitment into shortage areas.
Final action: The House voted to pass H.B. 381 with a recorded tally of 70 yes and 0 no votes. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
Why this matters: ProExcel aims to change how the state evaluates and supports instruction in classrooms — combining leadership development, evaluation reform and targeted financial incentives in an attempt to improve recruitment and retention in high-need teaching fields.
