Teacher Incentive Fund
The primary goal of the Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) is to support states that develop and implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems that are primarily based on student achievement, particularly in high-priority schools.
States, local school districts and nonprofit organizations may compete for their share of the $200 million Teacher Incentive Fund. Education agencies with differentiated compensation systems already in place may apply for a TIF grant to expand their existing programs to reach additional critical-needs school sites or to include teachers or administrators in high-needs schools who are not participating in the current system.
The main objectives of the fund are to:
- Improve student achievement by increasing teacher and principal effectiveness,
- Reform teacher and principal pay so that teachers and principals are rewarded for bolstering students’ academic achievement,
- Increase the number of effective educators who teach poor, minority and disadvantaged students in hard-to-staff subjects, and
- Create sustainable performance-based compensation systems.
Performance-based compensation systems must consider gains in student academic achievement and in multiple classroom evaluations conducted during the school year, among other factors. The pay systems must also provide educators with incentives to take on additional responsibilities and leadership roles.
For the purposes of the Teacher Incentive Fund, a high-needs school is one in which more than 30 percent of its enrollment is from low-income families, based on eligibility for free or reduced-price meal subsides, or based on other poverty measures that the state permits local school districts to use. For middle and high schools, eligibility may be calculated on the basis of comparable data from feeder schools.
For more information on the Teacher Incentive Fund, contact Rodney Watson, assistant superintendent for the Office of Educator Support, at (225) 342-9619, or Patrice Saucier, director for the Division of Professional Development at (225) 342-6980.
Funding
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides $200 million in Teacher Incentive Fund grants to be competitively awarded nationwide. Approximately 15 grants are expected to be awarded. Additionally, the education agencies awarded grants may be required to match or share some of the costs associated with implementing the initiatives in the fund.
Application Process
Information on the application process will be posted as soon as it is available.
Reporting Requirements
Award recipients are legally obligated to meet specific reporting requirements established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Details will be provided as it becomes available.
