Minnesota Education Commis-sioner Alice Seagren announced Friday, Jan. 26, that Crosslake Community School will implement Minnesota's nation-leading Q Comp performance and professional pay program. Crosslake will be the 15th charter school in the state to join Q Comp, and 34 school districts currently participate in the program. Crosslake will receive $33,020 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year for implementation efforts.

"I commend Crosslake Com-munity School for joining the growing team of schools who participate in this nation-leading education reform program," Seagren said. "Q Comp pays teachers based upon performance and student achievement while strengthening professional development for teachers."

In 2005, Gov. Tim Pawlenty proposed and the state Legislature approved Minnesota's Q Comp program. Q Comp provides up to $86 million for districts that join the program.

Q Comp is designed to advance the teaching profession by providing structured professional development and evaluation, as well as an alternative pay schedule that compensates teachers based on performance, not just seniority.

This plan is voluntary and will add up to an additional $260 per student in participating districts.

"Crosslake Community School is committed to partnering with families to educate children, on an individual basis, monitoring individual academic growth and celebrating an individual's success," Crosslake Community School Director Amy LaBarre said. "Q Comp gives us the additional revenue needed to more appropriately compensate our teachers for their performance and proven student achievement."

Crosslake Community School is a K-8 charter school with 111 students, 11 teachers, 15 paraprofessionals and other support staff.

Emily Charter School is another area charter school approved for Q Comp. School districts in the area that began implementing Q Comp include Brainerd and Pine River.