PORTLAND -- The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation has awarded a grant to The Maine Heritage Policy Center to fund new studies to improve Maine student outcomes through a performance-based teacher compensation program. The Maine Heritage Policy Center is among six organizations across America to receive support for similar research projects seeking to improve student performance in primary and secondary education in the United States.

Stephen Bowen, director of education policy at The Maine Heritage Policy Center, states "This is an incredible opportunity to improve education outcomes for Maine students. The timing is ideal as we are in the midst of school consolidation and reorganization. This research will move the discussions beyond the administration of these new school districts to focus more attention on improving student performance in the classrooms. Everything is being examined as many school systems merge, and incentive-based teacher compensation needs to be included in the discussions as a proven method of upgrading student performance."

Tarren Bragdon, chief executive officer of The Maine Heritage Policy Center, said "This support from The Broad Foundation will bring new research and suggested reforms to improve the quality of teaching and learning in Maine. We must address the long-term goals of recruiting and retaining the best teachers and rewarding those teachers who improve their skills and their students' performance. This issue is critical to Maine because well educated graduates are key to the future economic prosperity of our state."

The Eli and Edythe Broad (rhymes with "road") Foundation is a national venture philanthropy established by entrepreneur and philanthropist Eli Broad to advance entrepreneurship for the public good in education, science and the arts. The Broad Foundation's education work is focused on dramatically improving urban K-12 public education through better governance, management, labor relations and competition. Courtney Philips, assistant director of policy, explained that "The Broad Foundation selected the proposal from The Maine Heritage Policy Center because they are dedicated to improving student outcomes and have a deep passion for the young people of Maine. Steve Bowen, a former teacher and state legislator, understands the issues first-hand, and will produce recommendations that will improve performance for students in Maine and that The Broad Foundation will share with others across America."

The Maine Heritage Policy Center, with support from The Broad Foundation, will undertake this sustained effort to:

Introduce the concept of performance-based compensation in education to teachers, school administrators, the state Education Department, parent groups, and other interested parties.

Provide empirical research and outreach on the effectiveness of improving student outcomes.

Host performance-based pay experts from other states to share their experiences, lessons learned and implementation strategies with conference-based and direct consultation with interested teachers, education administrators, and state legislators.

Build awareness and support for this student-centered reform by further engaging and educating stakeholders and other interested parties.

In a 2006 report on the future of K-12 education in Maine, a 15-member blue-ribbon panel of the state's education experts, including the current Commissioner of Education as well as a former governor, concluded that "in order for Maine people to flourish in the radically transformed landscape of this new century, dramatic change must occur in Maine's schools."

Individuals may sign up to receive an email copy of this and other Maine Heritage Policy Center reports at www.mainepolicy.org.

For more information, please contact Steve Bowen, director of education policy at The Maine Heritage Policy Center at 207-321-2550 or via email: sbowen@mainepolicy.org. You may also contact Martin Sheehan, director of communications at 207-321-2550 or via email: msheehan@mainepolicy.org.

The Maine Heritage Policy Center is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, nonpartisan research and educational organization based in Portland, Maine. The Maine Heritage Policy Center formulates and promotes free market, conservative public policies in the areas of economic growth, fiscal matters, health care, education, and transparency - providing solutions that will benefit all the people of Maine. Contributions to The Maine Heritage Policy Center are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.