New Mexico's Public Education Department is expected to announce plans on merit-pay pilot programs at selected schools districts and charter schools.
The $7 million initiative will allow nine school districts and 12 charters to submit their own plans for merit-pay programs.
Education Secretary Hanna Skandera says by allowing districts to design their own programs, state education officials can explore different ways merit pay might work statewide.
But Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein says teachers are already working hard and she doubts merit pay will motivate them to work any harder.
Santa Fe, Pojoaque, Floyd, Hobbs, Gallup, Farmington, Raton, Lordsburg and Des Moines districts are taking part.
Albuquerque Public Schools, the state's largest district, did not apply for the program.
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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com
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