§6631 Purposes; Definitions

Summary

Helps States, school districts, and nonprofits create, run, improve, or expand pay and staffing systems for teachers, principals, and other school leaders. The aim is to reward those who boost student learning and close gaps between high- and low-performing students, especially in high-need schools. It also supports studying these systems to check if they work well, are fair, and give consistent, reliable results. Eligible entity — who can take part: a local educational agency (including a charter that is its own LEA), a group of local agencies, a State education agency or other State agency chosen by the State’s chief executive, the Bureau of Indian Education, or a partnership that includes at least one of those agencies plus at least one nonprofit or for-profit partner. High-need school — a public elementary or secondary school where 30 percent or more of students are from families below the poverty line. Human capital management system — how a local agency makes and carries out staffing and personnel decisions (like recruiting, hiring, placement, retention, dismissal, pay, training, tenure, and promotion) and that includes a performance-based pay system. Performance-based compensation system — a pay system for teachers, principals, or other school leaders that gives different pay levels partly based on measurable student learning gains and may include bonuses for hard-to-staff schools or subjects and recognition for extra duties or proven skills.