Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
South Dakota does not support differential pay by which a teacher can earn additional compensation by teaching certain subjects. However, the state has no regulatory language preventing districts from providing such differential pay.
A teacher can earn incentives by working in schools classified as high-needs. The state's Dakota ASSETS grant recruits and selects candidates to fill shortages in high-needs districts and schools, mainly in Western South Dakota. Participants are eligible for up to $5,000 in financial assistance in the form of scholarships and signing bonuses. Also, the Dakota Corps Scholarship provides full tuition and reimbursement for generally applicable fees to selected qualified applicants in high-needs schools.
Teachers who are National Board Certified are eligible to receive a $2,000 annual supplement. However, this differential pay is not tied to high-needs schools or subject-area shortages.
Support differential pay initiatives for effective teachers in subject shortage areas.
South Dakota should encourage districts to link compensation to district needs. Such policies can help districts achieve a more equitable distribution of teachers.
Expand differential pay initiatives for teachers in high-needs schools.
Although the state's program is a desirable recruitment and retention tool for teachers early in the career, South Dakota should expand its program to include those already part of the teaching pool. A salary differential is an attractive incentive for every teacher.
Consider tying National Board supplemenst 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 Dakota recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.