Economic Recovery and Reinvestment

Teacher Incentive Fund

Program Description: The purpose of the Teacher Incentive Fund is to support programs that develop and implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems, based primarily on increases in student achievement, in high-need schools. The goals of the Teacher Incentive Fund program include:

• Improving student achievement by increasing teacher and principal effectiveness
• Reforming teacher and principal compensation systems so that teachers and principals are rewarded for increases in student achievement
• Increasing the number of effective teachers teaching poor, minority, and disadvantaged students in hard-to-staff subjects and
• Creating sustainable performance-based compensation systems.

Local Educational Agencies (LEAs), including charter schools that are LEAs in their state, SEAs, or partnerships of (1) an LEA, an SEA, or both, and (2) at least one nonprofit organization may apply. Agencies with differentiated compensation systems already in place may apply for a TIF program grant to expand their programs so that they reach additional high-need school sites or to include teachers or administrators in high-need schools who are not participating in the current system.

Funding: $200 Million nationwide, to be competetively awarded. Expected number of awards is fifteen. There is a cost sharing or matching requirement.

Application process: Information on the application process will be posted as soon as available. Program requirements are expected to be published by the U.S. Department of Education in August, 2009.

Timeline: A deadline for transmittal of applications has not been determined.

Guidance: Performance-based compensation systems must consider gains in student academic achievement as well as classroom evaluations conducted multiple times during each school year among other factors and provide educators with incentives to take on additional responsibilities and leadership roles.

For purposes of the Teacher Incentive Fund program, a high-need school means a school with more than 30 percent of its enrollent from low-income families, based on eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch subsidies, or other poverty measures that the State permits the LEAs to use. For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools.

Reporting: Award recipients are legally obligated to meet specific reporting requirements established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Additional detail will be provided as it becomes available.

Contacts:

• State of Wisconsin contact, Tammy Huth, 608 266-1788
• Federal contact, April Lee, 202 205-5224

Links and Resources:

• U.S. Department of Education Teacher Incentive Fund Fact Sheet
• U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education;
  Overview Information: Teacher Incentive Fund Program - Recovery Act (ARRA) CFDA 84.385

For questions about this information, contact Tammy G. Huth (608) 266-1788

Last updated on 8/4/2009 12:43:10 PM