Development of a model for the Texas career ladder

This study was designed to examine several aspects of the Texas Teacher Career Ladder. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to educators in Texas public schools. These educators were given an opportunity to express their opinions concerning aspects of the Career Ladder. They were also given an opportunity to respond to suggested changes to the Career Ladder system and suggest their own improvements. Data collected from superintendents and the Texas Education Agency was used to determine the past and projected future costs of the Career Ladder to the state and to local school districts. One purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a relationship between the taxable wealth per student in a school district and the percentage of eligible teachers that were placed on Level 2 of the Career Ladder. Another purpose of the study was to develop a model for the Texas Teacher Career Ladder. The questionnaire responses concerning opinions, attitudes toward proposed changes, and suggestions for improvement were tabulated utilizing frequencies and percentages. A t-test was run on the data concerning the relationship between the taxable wealth per student and the percentage of eligible teachers placed on Level 2. The results of the study showed that Texas educators did not favor the continuation of the Career Ladder. They did not believe that the Career Ladder would cause good teachers to remain in the classroom. Educators did not believe that a student questionnaire, student achievement, a portfolio, or peer evaluation should be a part of the Career Ladder process. The educators that responded believed that state level funding should be provided to place all teachers that qualify on the Career Ladder. The educators believed that the legislature created the Career Ladder to reward good teachers. The most frequently mentioned positive aspect of the Career Ladder was a pay raise for at least some teachers, while the most often listed suggestion for improvement to the Career Ladder was to eliminate it. [...]