Retaining Effective Teachers Policy
Kansas 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 that would directly block districts from providing differential pay.
A vague state statute does allow the Board of Education of any local school district to pay employment incentives or retention bonuses to teachers.
In addition, teachers who are National Board Certified are eligible to receive a $1,000 annual incentive bonus. However, this type of differential pay is not tied to high-needs schools or subject-area shortages.
Support differential pay initiatives for effective teachers in both subject shortage areas and high-needs schools.
Kansas 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-needs schools.
This differential pay could be an incentive to attract some of the state's most effective teachers to its low-performing schools.
Kansas recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.