In recent years, the widespread availability of test score data from standardized testing has made possible the evaluation of teacher productivity in an unprecedented manner. We can now evaluate a student’s performance from year to year, and identify those teachers who consistently produce improvement in the majority of their students. This data alone is an imperfect measure, subject to many other factors, and should not determine the fate of a teacher’s career. However, trends in a teacher’s performance, in confluence with supervisor evaluations, provide a dependable basis on which to structure performance-based pay that rewards teachers for their skill in the classroom. Substantial increases in the average salary for teachers along with the promise of compensation based on ability and improvement would draw new talent to the field.