Performance-based pay should be tried. If one were to offer substantial pay premiums for teachers in poor, low performing schools, market-based pay might be successful. By substantial, I mean at least a 25% increase in pay over the existing salary schedule. For example, my district, LAUSD, starts credentialed teachers at $41,000. If this were increased to $50,000, I am sure that highly qualified teachers would move to under-performing schools. At the same time, high-performing experienced teachers should get their pay increased by 25%. Today, teachers have no incentive to work in more challenging settings. The working conditions in many low-performing urban schools are often so bad that I don't think smaller amounts of money would be enough to
attract substantial numbers of highly qualified teachers.
There are several problems, however. First, in this fiscal climate only the federal government can fund such a salary structure, and this is unlikely because huge amounts of money are being sent to Iraq and the bank accounts of billionaires. Second, I am sure that wealthier districts and schools will object to this unequal pay scheme. Third, although unions may object, I think that they could be persuaded to participate if the upside was substantial enough.
David N. Triche
United Teachers of Los Angeles Chapter Chair