I will be happy to have my pay tied to my students' test scores, but only under these conditions:

The students must come to school prepared and able to work. They must be properly fed, clothed and nurtured at home so they can work to their best.

My experience, however, has shown these basics of child care can no longer be assumed.

My students have come with little sleep, no breakfast, dirty clothes and without lunch -- or with nutritionally-questionable foods like chips, pop and packaged foods. They arrive late and disheveled and as they often move between separated parents, consistent school communication becomes difficult.

Basics like homework and gym clothes simply don't happen.

All these factors affect a child's success at school. It is problematic to expect high academic output from kids with such a chaotic life. What these children do get at school is structure, routine and, most importantly, committed adults who interact with them on a consistent basis.

The realities of some of these children's lives are not reflected by a standardized test.