Financial bonus to National Board certified teachers in high poverty schools - no detectible effects on student test achievement

This study examines a teacher incentive policy in Washington State that awards a financial bonus to National Board certified teachers in high poverty schools.

Researchers find that the bonus policy increased the proportion of certified teachers in bonus-eligible schools by improving hiring, increasing certification rates of incumbent teachers, and reducing turnover. Depending on the method, they estimate that the proportion of NBCTs in treated schools increased by about four to eight percentage points over the first five years of eligibility.

However, they do not find evidence that the bonus resulted in detectible effects on student test achievement.