Talent Transfer Initiative (TTI)

The Talent Transfer Initiative (TTI) is a teacher transfer incentive program designed to redistribute high-performing teachers from higher-achieving schools to low-achieving schools within a district. The program identifies the top 20% of teachers based on value-added measures of student achievement growth and offers them $20,000 paid over two years to transfer to and remain in one of the district's lowest-achieving schools (bottom 20% by test scores). Teachers already in low-achieving schools who are identified as high-performing receive $10,000 retention stipends. The program targets grades 3-8 in math and reading/ELA. Implementation involves value-added analysis to identify candidates, recruitment of both teachers and receiving-school principals, voluntary interviews and hiring, and a half-day orientation. Site managers facilitate the matching process between candidates and schools. The program was implemented in 10 large, economically diverse school districts across 7 states, serving elementary (grades 3-5) and middle schools (grades 6-8).