Acute Shortages of Qualified Teachers in Key Subject Areas. Minority students comprise 36 percent of our nation's student population, but only 13 percent of our teachers are minorities. As a result of this foresight, teacher shortages have been eliminated across the state, even in the cities. Survey results found 90 instances where applicants refused interviews or job offers because of the county's policy giving veteran teachers half credit on the pay scale for their years of classroom experience. Cincinnati public schools, in collaboration with the teachers' union, ratified plans to change their traditional pay schedule to one based on classroom performance.
Teachers advance up a four-step career ladder by meeting district goals.
Meritorious New Teachers may also be eligible for higher starting salaries. The New Haven Unified School District in the San Francisco Bay Area created a computerized applicant-tracking system that can be searched based on multiple criteria. The district also uses video technology to expand its interviewing capabilities, holding interactive videoconferences with applicants from around the world.