Reaction in Northeast Florida to a study casting doubt on the benefits of teacher performance pay was mixed Tuesday.

The study released by Vanderbilt University's National Center on Performance Incentives shows that the students of teachers who received performance bonuses did no better academically than other students.

The research comes at a time when states are being pushed toward education reform as part of the federal Race to the Top grant program.

State Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, pushed this year for legislation that closely tied teacher pay to student performance. The controversial bill was ultimately vetoed by Gov. Charlie Crist.

Thrasher wasn't aware of the Vanderbilt study Tuesday, but said he believes people who are given more incentives and opportunities to earn more money perform better. There are studies that indicate the need for assessment and evaluation of how teachers are doing in the classroom, he said.

"I think America is moving in a direction where merit pay is important," Thrasher said. "To me, it's all about evaluation and whether kids are making gains in the classroom. And if they are, we should reward our teachers."

Most legislators have gotten hooked on looking for a silver bullet solution, said Duval Teachers United President Terrie Brady.

"Everybody agrees we're not where we need to be in public education," Brady said.

But she said money isn't going to improve learning gains. Instead, it will put more pressure on teachers and cause divisiveness for educators.

The teachers union doesn't oppose a pay-for-performance system, she said, but prefers one in which an entire team gets recognition if a school improves, rather than individual educators.

mary.palka@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4104