Q CompTeacher Support :

Quality Compensation for Teachers (Q Comp)

Q Comp was proposed by Governor Tim Pawlenty and was enacted by the Legislature in July 2005. It is a voluntary program that allows local districts and exclusive representatives of the teachers to design and collectively bargain a plan that meets the five components of the law. The five components under Q Comp include: Career ladder/Advancement Options, Job-embedded Professional Development, Teacher Evaluation, Performance Pay, and an Alternative Salary Schedule. (Click on the Program Components link on the right.)

Approved school districts receive $260 per student ($190 per student in state aid and $70 per student in board-approved levy) for the program. Charter schools, integration districts, intermediate districts and the Perpich Center for the Arts receive approximately $260 per student in state aid through an equalized levy since these entities do not have authority to impose local tax levies.

Currently, 39 Minnesota school districts and 21 charter schools have been approved for Q Comp and have received funding for implementation during the 2007-08 school year. More than 130 additional districts have indicated they plan to submit an application for future years.

Go to the Website www.americanprogress.org/issues/domestic/education for current articles on teacher compensation. There are articles interviewing staff from Minnesota districts implementing Q Comp.

Call for Q Comp Application Readers

The application review process has been revised along with the application form to allow the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to maintain a more consistent and effective process. MDE is inviting interested individuals to serve as Application Readers. Each reader will receive compensation for time and certain associated costs. If you are interested, please click on the Application Approval Resources link on the right.

Call for Q Comp Peer Reviewers

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is preparing for the Q Comp Program Review cycle. This Program Review begins with a Document Review and will include Peer Review site visits. In order to conduct the site visits, MDE will is looking for Peer Review volunteers from each of the districts currently implementing Q Comp. Individuals from educational or other interested organizations are also welcome to apply. We are asking each district to consider the contribution of two Peer Reviewers. If interested in this task, please click on the Program Review Resources on the right.

Birch Grove Community School Seeks Enhanced Skills for Teahcers Through Q Comp

“Birch Grove Community School is demonstrating that schools of all sizes can benefit from Q Comp,” said Seagren. “Q Comp is a modern and professional way to pay teachers, allowing them to enhance and improve their skills, which leads to increased student achievement.” The 21st charter school to enter the program, they will receive $12,480 in total revenue for the 2007-08 school year for implementation."We are confident the Q Comp program will enable our teachers to enhance their skills,” said Birch Grove Co-directors Lisa M. Hoff and Diane Blanchette. “It will also provide valuable professional development opportunities for the staff." Read news release.

Providing Leadership Opportunities by Teachers for Teachers

Hmong Academy will implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. They are the 16th charter school in the state to opt into Q Comp, and will receive $98,800 in state aid for the 2007-08 school year.“Implementing Q Comp will give the district’s teachers an opportunity to enhance their skills,” Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said.” Christianna Hang, president and Hmong Academy director, added, “The Q Comp support will provide opportunities for leadership by teachers for teachers...and have a direct effect on increasing student achievement and AYP outcomes.” Read news release . View approval letter .

Differentiated Learning Focus is Key for 13th Charter School to Opt for Q Comp

Ridgeway Community School received $19,500 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year to implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program.. “Ridgeway further strengthens our conviction that schools of all sizes can benefit from Q Comp,” Education Commissioner Alice Seagren said. “The approval of our Q Comp program will enable us to become highly effective teachers through mentoring and coaching strategies along with professional development focusing on differentiated learning,” said Ridgeway Lead Teacher Kristee Partington. Read news release . View approval letter .

Farmington Makes it 34 and Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy is 12th Charter Approved

“The students, as well as the teachers, will benefit from the implementation of the Governor's nation-leading professional development and performance pay plan,” announced Commissioner Alice Seagren. Farmington school staff and students were presented with a $1.5 million dollar check for implementation. "We know that the most important factor in student achievement, when it comes to schools, is quality instruction,” Farmington Superintendent Brad Meeks said. Read news release. View approval letter.

Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy received $65,260. “The approval of our Q-Comp program will enable us to expand the teacher incentive system that has already given us such good results,” Executive Director Asad Zaman explained. Read news release. View approval letter

33rd District and First Online School Approved

TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning becomes 10th charter school, and first online high school in the state to participate in Q Comp and the South St. Paul School District opts for Q Comp as well. “On behalf of Governor Pawlenty, I commend the schools and teachers on their decision to participate in this groundbreaking education reform," declared Education Commissioner Alice Seagren."The $ 23,140.00 in funding for school year 2006-07 will provide professional development and additional training for teachers,” said TRIO's Director Tracy Quarnstrom. Read news release . Receiving an implementation check for $845,260.00, South St. Paul Superintendent Dana Babbitt commented that the District is very fortunate and excited to be accepted as a part of the Q Comp family.” Read news release.

Alternative Compensation Plans In Place for More Minnesota Teachers

Centennial, Pine River-Backus and Brandon Public School Districts became the 29th, 30th and 31st to implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. "I'm impressed with each of these district's decision to opt for Q Comp," said Commissioner Alice Seagren. Our approach allows all teachers the opportunity for leadership and excellence," said Pine River-Backus Superintendent Cathy Bettino. "focusing efforts to achieve our math goals are sure to pay off for our students and our community." Read news releases about Brandon , view approval letter ; Centennial , view approval letter ; and Pine River-Backus .View approval letter .

Delano Moves Achievement to Next Level With Q Comp

Commending the Delano School District for leadership and commitment to rewarding quality in the classroom, Commissioner Seagren presented students and staff with a check for $540,800.00 to implement their newly approved Q Comp plan. Last year, Governor Pawlenty proposed and the state legislature approved Minnesota’s Q Comp program. Delano will be the 28th district in the state to participate. “We look forward to implementing the Q Comp program to assist us in moving achievement to the next level, increasing staff development opportunities and improving on how we deliver instruction to all students," commented Superintendent, Dr. John Sweet. Read news release . View approval letter .

Minnetonka Implements Performance Pay for Teachers

Governor Tim Pawlenty announced that Minnetonka Public Schools will be the 27th district to implement Minnesota’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. “Q Comp pays teachers based on performance while providing meaningful professional development and rigorous evaluation,” explained Pawlenty. “The result is that teachers are treated as professionals and students achieve better results.”

Crediting Minnetonka teachers as consistently taking initiative to improve instruction for students, Superintendent Dennis Peterson and Assistant Superintendent Michael Lovett accepted the district’s $2,002,780.00 check for implementation. Read news release. View approval letter.

Seven Additional Schools Including Three Charters, Opt for Q Comp

Commissioner of Education Alice Seagren announced seven additional schools opting for Q Comp, including three charter schools. STRIDE Academy, (view approval letter) a St. Cloud area charter received $43,160.00 in state aid; Minneapolis’ Oh Day Aki (Heart of the Earth) (view approval letter) received $51,220.00 and Minnesota Transitions Charter School (view approval letter) in Minneapolis, received $277,420 for implementation during  the 2006-07 school year.

The four additional schools approved and recognized, are: Jordan Park Community School/Hmong International Academy; Sanford Middle and Whittier International Elementary, (view approval letters) all located in Minneapolis and receiving checks for $141,700.00, $98,504.00 and $87,100.00 respectively and Edgerton Elementary, (view approval letter) located in Roseville. Edgerton received a check for $104,520.00 from Commissioner Seagren during a presentation ceremony Thursday.

Increasing Student Achievement Collaboratively

Commissioner Seagren announced the 26th Minnesota school district to opt for Governor Pawlenty’s nation-leading Q Comp program and presented St. Anthony-New Brighton Public Schools Superintendent and staff with a $443,300.00 check for implementation. “Our system will allow our teaching staff the opportunity to work together in a professional collaborative model to meet our goal of increasing student achievement,” said St. Anthony-New Brighton Superintendent Rod Thompson. Read news release. View approval letter.

Q Comp reaches milestone in Burnsville

On September 8, Commissioner Seagren commended Burnsville public schools, which will receive over $2.75 million as the 25th district in the state to implement Minnesota's nation-leading Q Comp teacher performance and professional pay program. Burnsville Superintendent Ben Kanninen said Q Comp "will provide extensive and meaningful professional development for teachers which will have a positive impact on student learning and assist us as we work to close the achievement gap.” Read the press release . View approval letter .

Working Together to Improve Student Learning

Education Commissioner Alice Seagren announced that the Proctor Public School District will implement Governor Pawlenty’s nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. The 23rd district in the state to opt into Q Comp, Proctor received $460,460 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.“A great deal of time, energy and collaboration made for a Q Comp proposal that will aid in staff improvement, as well as help our students to learn more effectively," said Proctor Superintendent Diane Rauschenfels. Read news release.  View approval letter.

Improved Reading Instruction At Heart of Plan

Education Commissioner Alice Seagren traveled to the Clearbrook-Gonvick School District and delivered a $128,450 check to implement the district’s recently approved Q Comp plan. Governor Pawlenty’s innovative reform initiative offers career advancement, professional development and compensation linked to academic achievement to schools that choose to participate. Superintendent Diane Lehse explained, “Our team has spent many hours developing the application and connecting it with school reform efforts currently underway. Students will benefit because of the focus on improving reading instruction in K-12 -- the heart of our Q-Comp initiative." Read news release . View approval letter .

Recognizing and Rewarding the Work of Teachers

Adopting Governor Pawlenty’s innovative performance pay plan, North St. Paul becomes the 21st district approved for Q Comp. Participation in the program is voluntary and will add another $260 per student for implementation. With more than 11,000 students, the check -- presented this morning by Education Commissioner Alice Seagren -- totaled $2,887,040.00!“Q Comp will afford us a wonderful opportunity to recognize and reward some of the powerful and creative work our teachers are doing, which in turn will impact student achievement," said North St. Paul Superintendent Patty Phillips. Read news release . View approval letter .

Small District With Big Plans for Continued Student Success

Commissioner Alice Seagren presented the 20th Minnesota school district approved for Q Comp with a $261,820 check. “Congratulations to Lac qui Parle Valley on their decision to develop a program that brings together career advancement, professional development and compensation linked to academic achievement,” she said. Governor Pawlenty’s nation-leading Q Comp program provides participating school districts with the flexibility to meet local needs within a comprehensive model of improved teaching and learning. School District Superintendent Bob Munsterman explained the program as “a great opportunity for our teachers to expand on the curriculum and instruction improvement activities they have been involved in for several years.” Read news release. View approval letter.