Performance-Based Pay for Teachers


 

Publication Date: January 2001

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Education

Type:

Abstract:

Policymakers at all levels are considering and implementing policies that link elementary and secondary school teachers' salaries or financial awards to their performance or to the performance of their students. These performance-based pay plans include a broad array of different kinds of efforts, ranging from merit-pay plans for individual teachers to school-based performance award plans that may reward teachers for the overall performance of their schools. These plans are being implemented in an effort to improve the quality of elementary and secondary school teaching. Among the key findings regarding performance-based pay plans for teachers are the following: