Are Public School Teachers Overpaid? New Evidence on Salaries, Benefits and Job Security

Speaking of so-called "teacher bashing", this study is sure to provoke such cries, given that it concludes: "Although some teachers may be underpaid, the data suggest the majority are receiving higher pay than they would be likely to receive in private-sector employment."  I haven't read the study so I can't say for sure whether I agree with it, but it's a discussion worth having.  In general, I think total comp for all teachers in America is somewhat too low, but the way the comp is split up is certifiably nuts: some teachers are paid WAY too little, while others are paid WAY too much, in part due to the root of the pay system, which is driven entirely by two things: seniority and certificates.

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Are Public School Teachers Overpaid? New Evidence on Salaries, Benefits and Job Security

Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
AEI, Twelfth Floor
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Two blocks from Farragut North Metro

PARTICIPANTS
• JASON RICHWINE, Heritage Foundation
• ROBERT COSTRELL, University of Arkansas
• ANDREW P. KELLY, AEI
• ANDREW G. BIGGS, AEI

DESCRIPTION
The public commonly accepts that public school teachers are "desperately underpaid," in the words of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and that raising teacher pay should be a priority of education reform. But is this true? AEI Resident Scholar Andrew Biggs and Heritage Foundation Senior Policy Analyst Jason Richwine will provide new data on teacher salaries, fringe benefits and job security that point to significantly more value in teachers' total compensation packages than was previously evident. Although some teachers may be underpaid, the data suggest the majority are receiving higher pay than they would be likely to receive in private-sector employment.

VIDEO
• A livestream of the event will be available starting at 3:00 p.m. ET the day of the event.
• Shortly after the event, a video will be available on the AEI website.

CONTACTS
• For more information, please contact Rohan Poojara at rohan.poojara@aei.org.
• For media inquiries, please contact Véronique Rodman at vrodman@aei.org.