Performance-related pay is once again growing in popularity and use, and the United States education system is now at a critical juncture that requires thoughtful consideration of this policy innovation. The National Center on Performance Incentives at Vanderbilt University is bringing together more than twenty scholars from multiple disciplines to debate the merits and weaknesses of performance-related pay. The purpose of this national conference is to identify the potential strengths and weaknesses of performance-based pay and address key conceptual and implementation issues that have dominated the debate. The conference will provide insight to inform policy, which is of great importance during an era that espouses research-driven practice and accountability. The conference will be hosted at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College on February 28-29, 2008.