Phoenix school district, county end incentive deal

PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix school district and Maricopa County officials have agreed to end a joint teacher-incentive program.

The county Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to stop using federal funds to reward and train educators in the Phoenix Union High School District.

The county has more than $51 million from a federal Teacher Incentive Fund for evaluating and rewarding teachers and principals in all six districts it oversees. The district's portion will go back to the federal government.

District Superintendent Kent Scribner says teachers in his district want incentives for departments or groups rather than individual incentives, which the county's program requires.

Scribner says the district will apply for a U.S. Department of Education Race to the Top grant.

The agreement will end Aug. 5.

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