NCPI affiliate Michael Podgursky was quoted in a recent Education Week article, “Economists Call for End to Teacher Degree Bonuses.” The article, drawing from research from the University of Washington, highlights the costs associated with paying teachers for advanced degrees (often called the Master’s Bump), despite little to no evidence of such degrees’ impact on student achievement. Podgursky spoke of the current economic climate, and how the downturn may spur alternative pay structures and experimentation in locations lacking the political will to do so. The article presents a balanced perspective of the inefficiencies associated with paying teachers for advanced degrees as well as the difficulty in overhauling an entire compensation system.