Oregon Public Broadcasting

In Oregon, a measure to base teacher pay on classroom performance qualified for the November ballot Tuesday.

The chief backer is conservative political activist Bill Sizemore.  The idea is to award raises based on merit, not seniority.

The measure doesn’t specify how classroom performance would be measured.  Teachers' unions say the main yardstick would probably be standardized test scores.

Portland high school Spanish teacher Reed Scott-Schwalbach says that’s not fair to teachers in urban areas.

Reed Scott-Schwalbach:  “We know that students who come from a better socio-economic background do better on tests.  And that is something that nobody can control.”

Oregon would be the only Northwest state with merit pay for teachers if the measure passes.

In Idaho, the state Senate this year killed a bill that would use merit pay for teachers.