Teacher Compensation Policy
Shortage-subject areas: Wyoming does not support differential pay in which a teacher can earn additional compensation by teaching certain subjects. The state's Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment program does offer a loan program for students pursuing certification in special education, math, science, or foreign languages. Up to 50% of the loan can be forgiven working for two years in the certification areas listed.
High-need schools: Wyoming offers additional compensation "to a teacher as
necessary to employ teachers for providing education programs at locations
that because of their unique circumstances require additional pay."
Teachers who are National Board Certified are eligible to receive
a $4,000 annual salary supplement. However, this type of differential pay is
not tied to teaching at high-need schools.
Support
differential pay initiatives for effective teachers in shortage-subject areas.
Wyoming should encourage districts to link compensation to
district needs. Such policies can help districts achieve a more equitable
distribution of teachers.
Consider
tying National Board supplements to teaching in high-need schools.
This differential pay could be an incentive to attract some
of Wyoming's most accomplished teachers to low-performing schools.
Wyoming recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.
8B: High-Need Schools and Subjects
States should help address chronic shortages and needs. States should ensure that state-level policies (such as a uniform salary schedule) do not interfere with districts' flexibility in compensating teachers in ways that best meet their individual needs and resources. However, when it comes to addressing chronic shortages, states should do more than simply get out of the way. They should provide direct support for differential pay for effective teaching in shortage subject areas and high-need schools.[1] Attracting effective and qualified teachers to high-need schools or filling vacancies in hard-to-staff subjects are problems that are frequently beyond a district's ability to solve. States that provide direct support for differential pay in these areas are taking an important step in promoting the equitable distribution of quality teachers.[2] Short of providing direct support, states can also use policy levers to indicate to districts that differential pay is not only permissible but necessary.