Performance Pay: Colorado

Analysis of Colorado's policies

Colorado does not support performance pay. The state does not have any policies in place that offer teachers additional compensation based on evidence of effectiveness. 

Recommendations for Colorado

Support a performance pay plan that recognizes teachers for their effectiveness.
Whether it implements the plan at the state or local level, Colorado should ensure that performance pay structures thoughtfully measure classroom performance and connect student achievement to teacher effectiveness. The plan must be developed with careful consideration of available data and subsequent issues of fairness.

Consider piloting performance pay in a select number of school districts.
This would provide an opportunity to discover and correct any limitations in available data or methodology before implementing the plan on a wider scale.

State response to our analysis

Colorado noted that according to the State Constitution, Colorado is a local control state and therefore such decisions are up to the individual school districts.

Last word

NCTQ appreciates the constraints set upon the state by its constitution. However, Colorado is encouraged to examine ways within its constitutional regulations that will allow it to support performance pay.