https://www.edweek.org/performance-pay Performance Pay en-US 2021 (c) Education Week Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:38:04 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/states-are-experimenting-with-teacher-pay-again-but-the-focus-isnt-just-test-scores/2025/10 Renewed interest could spur another wave of experiments with teacher pay. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:38:04 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/states-are-experimenting-with-teacher-pay-again-but-the-focus-isnt-just-test-scores/2025/10 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teacher-pay-explained-salary-benefits-and-pensions/2025/04 Learn how teachers are compensated, and the role that states and districts play in setting pay. Thu, 17 Apr 2025 19:31:54 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teacher-pay-explained-salary-benefits-and-pensions/2025/04 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/districts-cant-pay-teachers-promised-incentives-after-trump-admin-cuts-funding/2025/03 Grants meant for teacher and school leader development in high-need schools were abruptly cut by the Trump administration. Districts are looking for other options. Fri, 07 Mar 2025 22:45:26 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/districts-cant-pay-teachers-promised-incentives-after-trump-admin-cuts-funding/2025/03 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/does-performance-based-teacher-pay-work-heres-what-the-research-says/2023/06 A performance-pay overhaul in one of the country's 10 largest districts offers a test for lessons learned from decades of experimentation. Mon, 12 Jun 2023 23:13:21 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/does-performance-based-teacher-pay-work-heres-what-the-research-says/2023/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teacher-pay-raise-proposals-are-gaining-bipartisan-support-whats-in-them/2023/03 More conservative governors are signing onto teacher pay raises, a cause that's typically been championed by Democrats. Thu, 02 Mar 2023 23:31:49 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teacher-pay-raise-proposals-are-gaining-bipartisan-support-whats-in-them/2023/03 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/a-districts-long-term-investment-in-cultivating-future-teachers-is-paying-off/2023/02 Ector County, Texas, saw its teacher vacancy rate drop from 18 percent to 1 percent in less than four years. Tue, 28 Feb 2023 20:01:31 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/a-districts-long-term-investment-in-cultivating-future-teachers-is-paying-off/2023/02 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/black-teachers-pay-incentives-and-evaluation-systems-what-new-research-shows/2022/08 Black teachers in D.C. respond differently than their peers to job-evaluation pressures—and are less likely to opt into a bonus system. Mon, 01 Aug 2022 22:01:26 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/black-teachers-pay-incentives-and-evaluation-systems-what-new-research-shows/2022/08 https://www.edweek.org/education/texas-house-legislators-abandon-statewide-merit-pay-effort-for-teachers/2019/03 District superintendents called the proposal a violation of local control, while teachers said it would create incentives to teach to the test. The state is attempting to rewrite its school funding formula. Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:36:57 GMT https://www.edweek.org/education/texas-house-legislators-abandon-statewide-merit-pay-effort-for-teachers/2019/03 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/denver-teachers-to-strike-over-merit-pay-system/2019/02 In Denver, teachers will go on strike Monday to protest a performance-pay system that’s been in place for 15 years. The dispute is illustrative of a larger national shift away from differentiated pay. Thu, 07 Feb 2019 03:13:37 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/denver-teachers-to-strike-over-merit-pay-system/2019/02 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/2018-teacher-pay-how-salaries-pensions-and-benefits-work-in-schools/2018/03 An Education Week primer on teacher salaries, raises, performance pay, pensions, Social Security benefits, and health-care premiums. Fri, 30 Mar 2018 21:41:02 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/2018-teacher-pay-how-salaries-pensions-and-benefits-work-in-schools/2018/03 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/two-va-school-districts-invest-in-teacher-training-see-student-achievement-gains/2016/12 A pair of studies presented this month show the results of five-year grant initiatives in two of Virginia's largest school districts to improve student learning in their lowest-performing schools. Mon, 12 Dec 2016 16:01:00 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/two-va-school-districts-invest-in-teacher-training-see-student-achievement-gains/2016/12 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-u-s-department-of-education-announces-tif-5-awards/2016/10 Last week, the U.S. Department of Education announced the recipients Teacher Incentive Fund Round 5 grants which give school districts the opportunity to develop innovative solutions for recruiting and retaining highly effective educators. Wed, 05 Oct 2016 15:14:29 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-u-s-department-of-education-announces-tif-5-awards/2016/10 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/donald-trump-backs-merit-pay-funds-for-school-choice/2016/09 The GOP presidential nominee wants to give states the chance to use $20 billion in federal money to let children in poverty pick their public, charter, or private school. Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:48:21 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/donald-trump-backs-merit-pay-funds-for-school-choice/2016/09 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-pitches-using-federal-funds-for-school-choice-champions-merit-pay/2016/09 The GOP presidential nominee says he'd be the "nation's biggest cheerleader for school choice" and offer states $20 billion to create vouchers. Thu, 08 Sep 2016 19:49:33 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-pitches-using-federal-funds-for-school-choice-champions-merit-pay/2016/09 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-three-wrongheaded-school-reform-myths/2015/12 Many claims about the merits of school reform are "awash in misguided convictions," argues UFT President Michael Mulgrew. Wed, 09 Dec 2015 02:40:21 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-three-wrongheaded-school-reform-myths/2015/12 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-some-why-and-how-questions-on-teacher-merit-pay/2015/08 To the Editor:Some experts and educational economists would have us believe that rewarding "high performing" teachers with merit pay could improve student achievement. Why? Isn't using value-added modeling to tie teacher performance directly to student achievement a way to expose those educators who are underperforming in comparison with their peers? Wed, 26 Aug 2015 01:04:51 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-some-why-and-how-questions-on-teacher-merit-pay/2015/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-five-things-to-incentivize-in-teacher-compensation-plans/2015/07 Does "differentiating" teacher pay (beyond the usual salary schedule) result in Better Teaching and More Learning? Can we use financial incentives to build the teacher force every school leader dreams of: bright stars relentlessly pursuing the all-important data, working 60 hours a week, cheerfully compliant? Fri, 17 Jul 2015 01:21:22 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-five-things-to-incentivize-in-teacher-compensation-plans/2015/07 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/observing-an-uncertain-future-for-school-districts-in-north-carolina/2015/06 Justin Cook reflects on his familial roots as he documents two North Carolina school districts. Wed, 17 Jun 2015 19:14:55 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/observing-an-uncertain-future-for-school-districts-in-north-carolina/2015/06 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/testing-season-gets-teachers-excused-from-jury-duty/2015/04 Two teachers in Tampa, Fla., used the demands of testing season to get excused from being on the jury for a murder trial. Thu, 09 Apr 2015 18:31:14 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/testing-season-gets-teachers-excused-from-jury-duty/2015/04 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/tntp-presses-for-performance-pay-systems-for-teachers/2014/07 To bolster teacher quality, schools systems desperately need to institute variable pay structures that reward educators based on performance and challenging assignments, according to a report released this week by TNTP, a prominent nonprofit teacher-recruitment and policy organization. Fri, 18 Jul 2014 19:39:27 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/tntp-presses-for-performance-pay-systems-for-teachers/2014/07 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/d-c-teachers-improved-after-overhaul-of-evaluations-pay/2013/10 The closely-watched system for evaluating teachers and providing bonus pay in the District of Columbia appears to be motivating weak and strong educators alike to higher performance. Tue, 22 Oct 2013 20:51:19 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/d-c-teachers-improved-after-overhaul-of-evaluations-pay/2013/10 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/texas-axes-teacher-merit-pay-plan/2013/10 The once-vaunted teacher merit-pay plan in Texas will be converted this fall into a state grant program that pays for innovative education initiatives in a few dozen poor schools. Tue, 22 Oct 2013 20:34:36 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/texas-axes-teacher-merit-pay-plan/2013/10 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/georgia-in-doghouse-on-race-to-top/2013/08 Federal officials may withhold $9.9 million of Georgia's Race to the Top grant because the state eliminated a merit-pay plan for educators. Tue, 06 Aug 2013 22:51:40 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/georgia-in-doghouse-on-race-to-top/2013/08 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/combined-measures-better-at-gauging-teacher-effectiveness-study-finds/2013/01 Basing more than half a teacher's evaluation on student test scores seemed to compromise it, researchers also found. Wed, 09 Jan 2013 01:02:07 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/combined-measures-better-at-gauging-teacher-effectiveness-study-finds/2013/01 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-contract-includes-peer-review/2012/11 The pact approved in Newark, N.J., sets up a dual salary schedule and ensures teacher involvement in evaluations. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:21:51 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teachers-contract-includes-peer-review/2012/11 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/surveys-find-generation-gap-on-contested-teacher-policies/2012/11 Newer teachers are more likely than their veteran counterparts to support controversial education policies. Wed, 14 Nov 2012 00:42:43 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/surveys-find-generation-gap-on-contested-teacher-policies/2012/11 https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/facebook-grant-funds-newark-teacher-plan/2012/10 A tentative contract for teachers in the Newark public school system allows for merit pay bonuses funded mainly through a grant from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:35:10 GMT https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/facebook-grant-funds-newark-teacher-plan/2012/10 https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-usdoe-announces-tif-round-4-awards/2012/09 Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced the recipients of round four of the Teacher Incentive Fund. The TIF 4 competition has two components: the General TIF Competition and the TIF Competition with a Focus on STEM. The districts and states that secured awards include: Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:12:49 GMT https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-usdoe-announces-tif-round-4-awards/2012/09 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/state-ballot-measures-include-hot-k-12-issues/2012/09 Voters in various states will decide on teacher evaluations, funding, and charter school access, among other issues. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:42:06 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/state-ballot-measures-include-hot-k-12-issues/2012/09 https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-teacher-compensation-is-one-piece-of-the-puzzle/2012/09 To the Editor:Laura Overdeck, Arthur Levine, and Christopher Daggett are exactly on target in "Rethinking Teacher Compensation" (Aug. 22, 2012). Indeed, we must reassess and front-load how we pay teachers as a first step toward attracting and keeping the most effective candidates. However, front-loading compensation is incomplete. Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:13:41 GMT https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-teacher-compensation-is-one-piece-of-the-puzzle/2012/09