Sweeney will consider merit pay system that benefits New Jersey schools

One part of N.J. Gov. Chris Christie’s education reform plan is merit pay for teachers. He and Senate President Stephen Sweeney have disagreed over this, but Sweeney has commented recently on a system that could prove to be the middle ground.

He tells the Associated Press he would consider supporting a merit system that benefits the schools, not the teachers, effectively rewarding schools for exceeding educational expectations. The measure could hit the Legislature before the winter recess.

Christie has advocated a merit pay system, as well as teacher evaluations based partly on student performance and the elimination of lifetime teacher tenure.