Article: Experimenting with teacher compensation: innovations piloted in districts include skills-based salary schedules, school performance awards and incentives for tougher assignments.(Vaughn Next Century Learning Center, Los Angeles, California)(Denver Public Schools)

Today's educators are under pressure to dramatically improve student learning. Empirical research shows high-quality teachers are the most critical factor in accomplishing this goal--more so than demographic and classroom factors.

Because teacher pay is by far the largest part of most school districts' operating budgets (often 50 to 70 percent), it is compelling to ask if those dollars can be linked to improving teacher quality and, ultimately, student performance.

Improving teacher quality means ensuring that:

* All teachers have sufficient knowledge, skills and instructional skills to boost student learning;

* Shortages in key ...

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