Merit Pay vs. Enhanced Compensation

The Nevada State Education Association opposes merit pay—bonuses given to teachers based upon subjective measures.

NSEA knows that getting and keeping qualified teachers in every classroom and for every subject is critical for all Nevadans.  Salary levels and benefits are not competitive with other states, and salaries for other professions continue to outpace educators’ salaries. 

NSEA believes careful consideration of each issue must be made to determine an appropriate legislative solution.  To that end, NSEA supports enhanced compensation programs under the following conditions:

• Accomplished through the collective bargaining process.
• Criteria that are clearly stated and subject to objective measurement.
• Relate to school district’s educational objectives.
• Increases in the basic compensation for all education employees is not diminished by an enhanced compensation program.
• All licensed personnel and education support professionals have equal opportunity to receive enhanced compensation.