More Resources Lessons Learned Teacher Incentive Fund Center for Educator Compensation Reform

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today hosted a roundtable discussion on performance pay for educators with policymakers, researchers and state and local education leaders from across the nation at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Participants discussed ways the federal government can further support this growing movement. Spellings also released Lessons Learned About Implementing Performance-Based Pay, which outlines best practices in implementing performance pay systems.

"Nothing helps a child learn as much as a great teacher," said Secretary Spellings. "Yet we often find our most experienced and effective teachers in our least challenging settings. Until this trend is reversed, we will not be able to solve our education system's - and our country's - biggest challenges. We must do a better job of treating teachers like the professionals they are and rewarding those who take on tougher work and get results."

In 2006, President Bush created the Teacher Incentive Fund, which supports districts in rewarding teachers and principals who have increased student achievement and helps to recruit and retain high quality teachers and principals in the neediest schools. Since 2006, $196 million has been awarded to 34 grantees; new performance pay models have been created and existing programs have expanded. This year, the Department is awarding 34 grants nationwide totaling approximately $97 million.

According to studies reviewed in the National Mathematics Advisory Panel's final report, schools with performance pay plans show an increase in student achievement and improved learning outcomes.

In September 2006, the U.S. Department of Education established the Center for Educator Compensation Reform. The primary purpose of the Center is to support the Teacher Incentive Fund grantees with their implementation efforts through ongoing technical assistance and the development and dissemination of timely resources.

To view Lessons Learned About Implementing Performance-Based Pay, visit http://www.ed.gov/admins/tchrqual/performance/pay-performance.html. More information on the Teacher Incentive Fund is available at http://www.ed.gov/programs/teacherincentive/faq.html. For more information on the Center for Educator Compensation Reform, visit http://www.cecr.ed.gov.

###

Top

Back to October 2008