Effective teachers are the biggest in-school factor related to student success. Across the country, a diverse set of districts are pioneering innovative approaches to teacher compensation that reward their best teachers and raise compensation overall.

Read the Report

This report reveals the key policy decisions undertaken by 10 districts that have made it possible to revamp their compensation systems and, at the same time, both keep their systems solvent and achieve district goals. While the specific goals of each district vary, all 10 districts used compensation to attract, retain, and leverage high-performing teachers. These districts include:

• Baltimore City, Maryland
• Denver, Colorado
• Douglas County, Colorado
• Harrison School District 2, Colorado
• Hillsborough County, Florida
• Lawrence, Massachusetts
• New Haven, Connecticut
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Putnam County, Tennessee
• Washington, D.C.

Press Coverage:

Fawn Johnson, "How to Change Inflexible Teacher Pay Systems," National Journal, February 17, 2015

Stephen Sawchuk, "Report Highlights Features of Districts' Differentiated Pay Systems," Education Week: Teacher Beat, posted February 17, 2015