Over the past few years, as cash-strapped states and school districts have faced tough budget decisions, spending on teacher compensation has come under the microscope. The underlying question is whether, when you take everything into account, today's teachers are fairly paid, underpaid, or overpaid. In this forum, two pairs of respected…

Over the past few years, as cash-strapped states and school districts have faced tough budget decisions, spending on teacher compensation has come under the microscope. The underlying question is whether teachers are fairly paid, underpaid, or overpaid. In this forum, two pairs of respected economists offer very different answers. Andrew Biggs of…

The demand for child care in the United States continues to grow, but child care workers' wages remain minimal. Using examples within New Jersey, the author demonstrates how low wages impact child care quality and are directly related to the effects of the competitive marketplace. Various historical, regulatory, and cultural contexts also…

There is a growing need for preschool teachers. The enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds in preschool has grown steadily and the number of young children with working mothers has also increased. Many parents would prefer to place their children in day care centers if they could find centers with staff trained in early childhood education. The number…

Indicts the system that keeps caring, competent part-time teachers from earning a living wage and joining the "system" of job stability. (RAE)

Discusses the advantages and problems connected with the implementation of pay boards to replace collective bargaining agreements on teacher salaries. (WD)

Discusses problems in establishing teacher cost indices on which to base adjustments in state educational aid. Presents 1973-1980 data on differentials in teacher salaries and revenue potentials among Florida school districts to show that salary differences between districts can change rapidly. (RW)

While Michigan students learn a variety of skills in their time at school, perhaps the most important charge of public schools, beyond providing a safe and healthy environment, is to ensure that students are learning their three fundamental skills: reading, writing and arithmetic. Unfortunately, the achievement levels of Michigan public school…

The author investigates the wisdom of public policy widening the salary differential between researchers and professors. He evaluates the potential problems in adopting a self-selection wage policy, when workers' risk aversion and preferences or the accumulation of human capital are considered. (Author/CH)

A salary-schedule compression is the process of reducing the number of salary schedule steps while still giving annual salary increases. Explains what school districts can do during negotiations to compress a schedule without awarding greater increases than originally intended. A sidebar shows a table for relating years of teaching experience to…

Review of 19 case studies of gender inequity in faculty salaries found inappropriate application of statistical procedures. An alternative, seven-step procedure for salary modeling and testing allegations of salary discrimination is outlined and applied in a case study of 725 faculty. (MSE)

The applicability of the principle of comparable pay for comparable worth is discussed for college faculty jobs, not only for alleviation of sex discrimination but also for eliminating bias-related discrepancies between departments or specialties. (MSE)

Argues that salary differentials among community college faculty are unrealistic and based on the inaccurate assumptions that people are motivated primarily by money; that high-demand disciplines will remain constant over time; that attitudes toward other disciplines and faculty members are unaffected by salary differentials; and that teaching is…

Recognizes variables that are currently relevant to the determination of community college faculty salaries, stressing that faculty marketability can no longer be ignored. Looks at the factors underpinning the need for differential funding, the forces operating against differential salaries, and the need for appropriate action. (AYC)

The design of a faculty salary structure that gives weight both to professional concerns about merit and to personal concerns of salary improvement in the course of an academic career is illustrated. Commitment to quality, resources, and leadership are seen as essential to this model's success. (MSE)