To fill a large gap in knowledge about educator compensation reform and to provide insight to the U.S. Department of Education, SRI began collaborating in 2008 on a five-year evaluation of the effectiveness of the department’s Teacher Incentive Fund.

The incentive fund seeks to reform teacher and principal compensation to reward effectiveness, steer effective teachers to high-need schools and content areas, and support ongoing school and teacher improvement.

The study has included in-depth telephone interviews with individuals in each of 34 program grantees, case studies among a sample of sites, and surveys of teachers and principals. The study will also include an analysis of educator labor market trends and a review of evaluations taking place among the grantees.