To improve the chances of success of current master teacher plans, this article examines the strengths and weaknesses of earlier attempts. It focuses on the Temple City, California, master teacher plan, cites reasons for its demise, and suggests alternatives. Charts are included. (DCS)

This paper reviews selected literature pertaining to merit pay, differentiated staffing, and incentive pay programs. The first section reviews the history of these alternatives to the single salary schedule, beginning with an account of two experimental merit pay plans in the early 20th century. During the 1920s, merit pay plans gave way to the…

This booklet examines the premises, practicalities, history, and politics of merit pay for teachers. A discussion of the current context of the merit-pay debate focuses on the claims made for merit-pay programs and the assumptions behind the proposals. Following an analysis of similarities and contrasts among merit-pay plans, the author gives…

A nationwide interest in master-teacher plans has arisen as a response to the general malaise in education, but the viability of such plans depends on finding answers to certain crucial problems. Some basic issues must be addressed before master teachers can even be identified: whether a heirarchy of teachers should be established, or prior…