Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
Connecticut neither supports differential pay by which a teacher can earn additional compensation by teaching certain subjects nor offers incentives to teach in high-needs schools. However, the state has no regulatory language preventing local districts from providing such differential pay in these areas.
For the 2010-2011 school year, the Commissioner of Education designated the following subjects as teacher-shortage areas: bilingual education (PK-12), comprehensive special education (K-2), English (7-12), intermediate administrator, mathematics (7-12), music (PK-12), remedial reading and language arts (1-12), school psychologist, speech and language pathology and world languages (7-12). Qualifying teachers assuming positions in these subject areas could benefit from either the Teachers' Mortgage Assistance Program or a Rehiring of Retired Teachers program. In the latter, teachers could return to work and, for a limited time, not be subject to the earnings limit if they teach in a subject-shortage area.
Support differential pay initiatives for effective teachers in both subject shortage areas and high-needs schools.
Such policies can help districts achieve a more equitable distribution of teachers. Although the state's mortgage assistance and rehiring of retirees programs are a step in the right direction, the state should consider how to expand these programs so that all teachers, not just retirees or those purchasing a home can benefit. A salary differential is an attractive incentive for every teacher.
Connecticut recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.