“A month ago an article in The New York Times looked at the new incentive program being used by the District of Columbia Public Schools. Under this plan (called “Impact Plus”), teachers rated “highly effective” by the district’s new evaluation system are eligible for large cash bonuses and/or permanent salary increases.
“The article said, “The profession is notorious for losing thousands of its brightest young teachers within a few years, which many experts attribute to low starting salaries and a traditional step-raise structure that rewards years of service and academic degrees rather than success in the classroom.” It also profiles several teachers who received the bonuses, most of whom say it played a role in their decision to remain in the classroom.
“Putting aside these anecdotes and characterizations of “experts'” views, the idea that financial incentives “ such as bonuses for performance or teaching in hard-to-staff schools “ is a key to boosting teacher retention is a complex empirical question, and an open one at that…”