Outlines five myths used as arguments against teacher merit pay. While teacher preparation, salaries, and evaluation are essential elements of performance pay plans, they should not be isolated from related issues. Includes a sidebar on problems the Fairfax County (Virginia) merit pay plan is encountering with the teacher union. (MD)

A Virginia district's voluntary teacher incentive program is credited with rewarding excellent performance, encouraging teacher attendance, and being simple to administer. Requirements include few absences, superior teaching evaluations by principal, good standardized test scores, successful evaluation by outside experts, and completion of course…

Approved by the teachers' union, this salary plan features probationary, continuing contract, and career levels. The career level rewards excellence, and eligible teachers must demonstrate involvement in professional activities and receive outstanding evaluation. Instrumental to the program's success is the possibility of appealing evaluations.…