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Teacher Compensation Systems in the United States K-12 Public School System

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  • Podgursky, Michael
  • Springer, Matthew

Abstract

This paper provides a review of the current teacher compensation system and examines the structure of teacher compensation in the U.S. K-12 public education system. Teacher salaries are largely set by schedules that are neither performance related nor market-driven, and have significant consequences on school staffing and workforce quality. The second section summarizes the recent literature on compensation reform, with an emphasis on studies using experimental or quasiexperimental designs to evaluate the impact of programs on student achievement and teacher outcomes. A final section offers observations on prospects for future research and reforms.

Suggested Citation

  • Podgursky, Michael & Springer, Matthew, 2011. "Teacher Compensation Systems in the United States K-12 Public School System," National Tax Journal, National Tax Association;National Tax Journal, vol. 64(1), pages 165-192, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ntj:journl:v:64:y:2011:i:1:p:165-92
    DOI: 10.17310/ntj.2011.1.07
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sean P. Corcoran & William N. Evans & Robert M. Schwab, 2004. "Changing Labor-Market Opportunities for Women and the Quality of Teachers, 1957-2000," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 230-235, May.
    2. Daniel Aaronson & Lisa Barrow & William Sander, 2007. "Teachers and Student Achievement in the Chicago Public High Schools," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 25(1), pages 95-135.
    3. Dale Ballou & Michael Podgursky, 1996. "Teacher Pay and Teacher Quality," Books from Upjohn Press, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, number tptq, August.
    4. Ballou, Dale, 2001. "Pay for performance in public and private schools," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 51-61, February.
    5. Marigee P. Bacolod, 2007. "Do Alternative Opportunities Matter? The Role of Female Labor Markets in the Decline of Teacher Quality," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 89(4), pages 737-751, November.
    6. Robert M. Costrell & Michael Podgursky, 2009. "Peaks, Cliffs, and Valleys: The Peculiar Incentives in Teacher Retirement Systems and Their Consequences for School Staffing," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 4(2), pages 175-211, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Camargo, Braz & Camelo, Rafael & Firpo, Sergio & Ponczek, Vladimir, 2014. "Information, Market Incentives, and Student Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 7941, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Nirav Mehta, 2022. "A Partial Identification Approach to Identifying the Determinants of Human Capital Accumulation: An Application to Teachers," University of Western Ontario, Departmental Research Report Series 20221, University of Western Ontario, Department of Economics.
    3. Balch, Ryan & Springer, Matthew G., 2015. "Performance pay, test scores, and student learning objectives," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 114-125.
    4. Matthew G. Springer & Dale Ballou & Art (Xiao) Peng, 2014. "Estimated Effect of the Teacher Advancement Program on Student Test Score Gains," Education Finance and Policy, MIT Press, vol. 9(2), pages 193-230, March.
    5. Wall, Howard J., 2022. "Student Outcomes and Spending on Teachers in the Aftermath of Recession," MPRA Paper 113440, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Fox, Daniel & Gmeiner, Michael & Price, Joseph, 2019. "The gender gap in K-12 educator salaries," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 23-26.
    7. Nirav Mehta, 2014. "Targeting the Wrong Teachers: Estimating Teacher Quality for Use in Accountability Regimes," University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP) Working Papers 20143, University of Western Ontario, Centre for Human Capital and Productivity (CHCP).
    8. Swain, Walker A. & Rodriguez, Luis A. & Springer, Matthew G., 2019. "Selective retention bonuses for highly effective teachers in high poverty schools: Evidence from Tennessee," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 148-160.

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