Published: May 1, 2001

Hooking New Teachers

As the nationwide teacher shortage worsens—particularly in the areas of math, science, foreign languages, and special education—school districts are devising ever more creative ways of luring teachers into their classrooms. From whopping signing bonuses to handy gift certificates, districts are angling to cope with the estimated 2 million openings they'll face in the coming decade. Not all recent recruiting efforts have been entirely successful, though. In 1998, for example, Massachusetts handed out $20,000 incentives (paid in three installments) mostly to career- changers and recent college grads, but 20 percent of these "bonus babies" cashed their first payment and skipped out after just one year. Still, schools keep searching for the perfect bait, in addition to casting their nets wider and keeping them out there longer. As Antonio Garcia, recruitment director for the Los Angeles Unified School District, explains, "We recruit every day of the year; it's no longer a season."

Following are a few fairly representative teacher incentives on offer from districts across the country.

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