Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)

The Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) is a schoolwide reform program designed to improve schools by raising teacher quality. Under the TAP model, teachers can earn extra pay and responsibilities through promotion to mentor or master teacher positions, as well as annual performance bonuses based on a combination of their value added to student achievement and observed classroom performance. The program targets K-8 elementary schools and includes weekly meetings of teachers and mentors (cluster groups) and regular classroom observations by a school leadership team to help teachers meet their performance goals. Chicago TAP specifically includes performance pay for principals and other school staff in addition to teachers. Teachers receive performance bonuses (averaging $1,100 in year one and $2,653 in year two), mentor teachers receive $7,000 per year, and lead teachers receive $15,000 as salary augmentation. The program is implemented through face-to-face delivery with professional development and training required for staff before implementation.