Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
South Carolina supports incentives that teachers can earn by teaching certain subjects or in high-needs schools. The state's Teacher Loan Program allows eligible teachers to cancel portions of their student loans by teaching in "certain critical geographical and subject areas."
In addition, teachers who are National Board Certified are eligible to receive a $5,000 annual salary stipend. However, this differential pay is not tied to high-needs schools or subject-area shortages.
Expand differential pay initiatives for teachers in subject shortage areas and high-needs schools.
Although the state's loan forgiveness program is a desirable recruitment and retention tool for teachers early in their careers, South Carolina should expand its program to include those already part of the teaching pool. A salary differential is an attractive incentive for every teacher, not just those with education debt.
Consider tying National Board supplement to teaching in high-needs schools.
This differential pay could be an incentive to attract some of the state's most effective teachers to its low-performing schools.
South Carolina noted that the state focuses its efforts for the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) initiative on high-needs schools.