However, they usually have more teaching flexibility, less paperwork and participate more fully in decision making. If Arizona's charter school experience is typical, they also often earn more than their public school counterparts. Charter school teachers often have job options other than teaching because they have subject matter expertise, are willing to take risks and have non-teaching work experience. Some charter schools hire only certified teachers, but overall only about 60 percent of charter school teachers in Arizona hold teaching certificates. Most established charter schools set their salary schedules 5 percent higher than traditional public schools, with merit pay and pay for special skills raising the overall average to 6 percent higher.
Teachers appear to be motivated by accountability and performance-based incentives.
For instance, one Arizona charter school recently received applications from 200 qualified candidates for fewer than 10 teaching jobs.