Discusses the current single-step salary schedule used to compensate teachers in most public school systems. Presents a model for basing an incentive system for promotion and salary on a more equitable and realistic multiple-step system. (NKA)

This paper discusses the concept of performance-based pay, or merit pay, for teachers as a way to encourage better teaching. It begins with a general discussion of the issue of performance-based pay, which on the surface seems simple, but in practice is very complex. It continues with a discussion of whether the achievement to be assessed is based…

Argues that a private-practice model, in which a teacher or groups of teachers would sign a fee-for-service contract for instructional services in a public school, offers both an incentive for performance (which the school district seeks) and an opportunity for innovation (which the teachers seek). (CMG)

Proceedings of a conference on policy issues pertinent to the design and implementation of teacher incentive plans are highlighted in this report. Seven papers and pursuant responses are presented, which include discussions on the definition and importance of teacher incentives, job redesign and its organizational impacts, constraint and variety…

Providing incentives for teachers of adults is an important means of attracting, retaining, and stimulating staff. Developing a variety of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards and incentives and instituting them effectively are important administrative functions. (SK)

Presents a 14-point plan for reforming education by improving teacher incentives. Proposals include raising salaries and merit pay; developing summer employment assistance centers, a teacher placement program, and employee suggestion compensation; increasing teachers' participation in school policy; providing early retirement plans and tax…

Discusses the cases for and against merit pay for teachers and concludes that the number of failures in using merit pay far outweigh the successes. (JC)

In the proposed Master Teacher Program, training, experience, and performance determine pay. Four career stages are set up for teachers: apprentice, professional, senior, and master. An estimated 87 percent of all Tennessee teachers would be eligible for pay incentives ranging from $1,000 to $7,000 a year. (PB)

A plan for promoting excellence in teaching is proposed, which would designate 10 to 15 percent of a school's staff "distinguished teachers." This group would receive salary increases and would be staggered over the years. Parents, former students, administrators, and other teachers would help select the group. (PP)

Current teacher-compensation policies typically reward teachers for years of experience and level of knowledge as measured by educational credits. However, the current system does little to encourage teachers to develop the skills needed to achieve organizational goals. This paper examines the compensation systems in four complex, knowledge-based…

In order for teacher compensation to serve as an incentive that reinforces broader organizational goals, the norms of the compensation structure must be aligned with the norms of the school organization. The first section of this paper presents a brief overview of changes in teacher compensation from 1820 to 1950. It describes how such changes…

The term "accountability" involves more than the recent demand by the public that schools justify the academic levels achieved by their students. Such aspects of accountability as teacher certification, school accreditation, educational evaluation, and student testing have existed for years. The New Mexico State Department of Education…

In satirical verse the author affirms the value of merit pay proposals and laments the lack of action on such proposals that has resulted from indecisiveness concerning criteria for merit pay implementation. (JBM)

This brief issue paper offers an overview of the key issues involved in the pay-for-performance plan, as it applies to compensating teachers. Paying teachers on the basis of performance, as a way to improve the quality of teaching, has gained support in recent years. This paper examines the practice through five leading pay-for-performance models.…

A skeptical review of recent congressional task force recommendations for public school teachers, which include only a limited endorsement of merit pay and strong encouragement for sabbatical leave for teachers to study and travel abroad. (JBM)