TEACHERS IN LINE FOR CASH 59 VALLEY SCHOOLS IMPROVE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

Teachers at 59 low-performing schools in the San Fernando Valley became eligible for cash awards of up to $25,000 each because their students showed the greatest improvement on the state Academic Performance Index, state education officials said Thursday.

But only a handful will receive the money because so many schools throughout California performed well on the index, a statewide ranking of public schools based on standardized test scores. Statewide, 1,346 schools qualified for the $100 million program with an estimated 280 schools expected to actually receive the cash awards.

But that grim reality didn't dim the smiles at Tarzana Elementary School, which improved its API scores by 107 points and was ranked 54th statewide for the reward program, putting its staff in line to receive awards of $10,000 each.

``Oh my gosh! Wow, that's wonderful,'' said Principal Roberta MacAdam, when told the news Thursday afternoon. ``Oh, this is exciting.''

Districtwide, 188 campuses qualified for the bonuses. Elsewhere, three schools in the Burbank Unified School District, seven in the Glendale Unified School District, and nine in east Ventura County school districts were eligible for the rewards.

No schools from the Las Virgenes Unified School District or any of the districts in the Santa Clarita Valley qualified for the program, which is aimed at improving the lowest-performing schools.

The state Certificated Staff Performance Incentive Award program distributes the awards to teachers, principals and aides at schools in the bottom half of the state rankings that show the greatest improvement in their API scores.

To be eligible, a school must be at or below the median in state rankings, double its growth target for 2000, and have shown at least some growth from 1998 to 1999.

Those that showed the greatest gain win the awards and are ranked accordingly. Thus, Lincoln Elementary in Tulare County was ranked first in the state among elementary schools because it improved its API score by 189 points over the previous year, putting its certificated staff first in line to receive the $25,000 bonuses. After Lincoln receives its share, the remaining reward money is distributed to the next most improved school until the fund is depleted.

The state estimates that 1,000 staff members will receive $25,000 awards; 3,750 staffers will receive $10,000 each; and 7,500 will receive $5,000 each.

``This is to recognize the staff in the schools - particularly in the underperforming schools - who show the greatest gain on their Academic Performance index,'' said Patrick Chladek, manager of the state's awards unit.

In east Ventura County school districts, eight elementary schools and one middle school are eligible to receive money.

In the Burbank Unified School District, Walt Disney Elementary earned a ranking of 75, William McKinley Elementary achieved a 974 rank and Providencia Elementary School had a rank of 156.

Disney principal Linda Reksten, said teachers have known for a while that they have a good chance at receiving the rewards because of the school's dramatic growth in scores.

``The notion that they're being rewarded for the tremendous work they've been doing, as well as the kind of practices they've been doing at the school has empowered these teachers,'' Reksten said. ``They do not use hope as a strategy, they use data as a strategy. They choose strategies that are effective and that makes teachers very powerful.''

The state calculates the awards by multiplying the number of full-time equivalent staff at a school by the per-staff award amount and then giving the total figure to the district.

Distribution of the awards is then subject to negotiation between the teachers union and the district. For example, they might agree to provide higher amounts to the most experienced teachers, while emergency credentialed teachers, aides or staff members who rotate schools might get smaller amounts.

The actual award amounts and distribution are expected in April or May, although a lawsuit filed by teachers at a school in Sacramento over eligibility requirements could delay that for an indefinite time.

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Source: California Department of Education