WHY CHANGE THE SINGLE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE?
Despite its resilience, the single salary schedule has always been subject to criticism. Although predictable and fair, the current system, say its critics, rewards mediocrity by valuing seat time over teaching skill. A tight labor market, greater scrutiny from state legislatures, and new laws in some states that encourage or even require changes in teacher compensation are among the factors currently pressuring schools to raise salaries. Demographically, the need for new teachers is rising to an epic level. The U.S. Department of Education estimates that the nation will need more than a million new teachers by 2010, nearly half the current work force of 2.6 million in elementary and secondary schools. An estimated 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession within five years, many of them citing money and professional dissatisfaction as key reasons. At the same time, policymakers seem unwilling to allocate more money to schools without ensuring a return on their investment. Linkin
