When you join Team DPS, you are set at a Step and Grade based on your relevant work experience and education level. Placement in a grade is determined by your education level, while placement on a step is related to your years of experience. 

Earning Step Increases

Step increases (vertical movement down the salary schedule) are contingent upon district budget and the negotiation process. If eligible, step increases are earned by receiving a rating of Approaching, Effective, or Distinguished during your annual performance review process. 

Earning Grade Movement

You can change grades (horizontal movement along the salary schedule) by achieving higher education (such as bachelor’s or master’s degrees), completion of district provided Professional Development Units, or by earning an approved industry authorization. Please see the list of advanced license/certificates for approved certifications. If an employee's advanced license or certificate is not on the approved advanced license/certificate list, DPS has a process to add it. The employee must submit a proposal by following the instructions on the Advanced License/Certification Qualification Application form for review.

DPS is committed to serving the whole child, closing the education gap, and giving you an opportunity for growth. Our incentives are focused on bringing the best CTE instructors to those students who face the most challenges. You can earn incentives based on where you teach and the type of assignment you take. The ProComp 3.0 General Eligibility Guidelines outline all incentives.

• Title I Incentive
• You can earn $100 per paycheck ($2,000 annually), for working full-time at a school designated as Title I. The incentive is paid over 20 paychecks, beginning with the September 22nd paycheck and ending with the July 7th paycheck. 
• Title I school designations are set by the district and are based on the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch (FRL). Some schools that do not meet the FRL guidelines but still serve a Title I student population (such as ECE or Pathways schools) are included in the district’s published 2024-25 Title I School List and eligible for Title I incentives.
• Eligibility for the incentive may change annually based on the school’s Title I designation. Information on Title I guidelines are located on the Federal Programs site. 

• Highest Priority Retention Incentive
  • Effective school year 2022-23, the Highest Priority Retention Incentive will be eliminated. Returning bargaining members in the 30 schools previously eligible for this incentive will receive a $1,000 retention bonus prorated by FTE, paid as a lump sum in the fall of 2022.

• Distinguished Schools Incentive
• Your school can apply for the Distinguished Schools incentive - a lump sum payout of $750 prorated by FTE to each member of your team. The incentive is paid out on the first paycheck in June each year.
• To qualify, your school submits the Whole Child - Distinguished School Application by 5:00 p.m. on April 30. 
• Find additional information and prepare for your application here.
• Ten schools may receive the Distinguished Schools Incentive for their work supporting the whole child. Schools can win the incentive once every three years. The ProComp Implementation Team, composed of district and DCTA members, designates winners based on: 
  • Health Education
  • Physical Education and Physical Activity
  • Nutrition Environment and Services
  • Health Services
  • Counseling, Psychology, and Social Support Services
  • Physical Environments
  • Social and Emotional School Climate
  • Physical Environment
  • Employee Wellness
  • Family Engagement
  • Community Involvement
  • Support for students in historically marginalized groups
  • Implementation of Black Excellence Resolution
  • Implementation of the Know Justice Know Peace Resolution
  • Recruitment and Retention of BIPOC Educators
• The ten schools chosen will include a variety of student populations and regions, including pathway schools.

 You may be eligible for a grade change after completion and approval of six (6) PDUs.

You may be eligible for student loan and tuition reimbursements, up to $1,000 per school year and $6,000 total per lifetime. Specific eligibility and payment guidelines apply.

To receive payment, fill out this form. Specific eligibility and payment guidelines are outlined on the Tuition and Student Loan Reimbursement Form (Adobe Acrobat Reader required for electronic signature). Forms are due to Payroll by the end of each month in order to be paid on the following month's second paycheck. The deadline to apply reimbursement credit to the 2020-2021 school year maximum is July 31, 2021.