Two Districts To Allow Teachers To Defer Pay To Finance Leaves

By Joanna Richardson

School districts in Muskegon County, Mich., and Rochester, N.Y., this year will become the first in the nation to offer an innovative teacher-leave policy used throughout Canada.

The policy--approved by the two districts for next fall--allows teachers to defer part of their salary for several years to finance a planned leave of absence, with the guarantee of a job when they return.

The plan has been promoted by union leaders, school officials, and experts on teacher compensation as a way to reduce teacher...