Your Dollars At Work: Results from a Randomized Trial of Merit Pay

• In Event: Roundtable Session 100
  In Roundtable Session: Policy Issues Related to Teacher Compensation

Abstract

Merit pay for educators has received much attention, including within the Race to the Top competition (2009) and the expanded Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) program. At the same time, prominent local and state merit pay programs, such as those in Denver, Florida, and Texas, have resulted in significant momentum in developing alternative strategies for teacher compensation. However, recent findings from Tennessee and New York indicate that merit pay programs may not provide the desired bang for the buck. The proposed study provides insight from a randomized trial and the subsequent effects on teachers, principals, and student performance.

Author

• Joshua H. Barnett, National Institute for Excellence in Teaching