U.S. teachers typically do not receive the allowances and services that many DOD overseas teachers receive. DOD Overseas Teachers’ Compensation Package Generally Competitive with U.S. Teachers’, but Health Care an Issue

DOD overseas teachers’ salaries compare favorably to U.S. teachers’ salaries. On average, salaries for teachers in DOD overseas schools are higher than the U.S. national average teacher salary. DOD Appears to Have Little Difficulty Recruiting and Retaining Well- Qualified Teachers for the Overseas School System

In general, DOD has been successful in recruiting and retaining well- qualified teachers. DOD Generally Successful Recruiting Well-Qualified Teachers

In school year 2001-02, DOD recruiters filled over 99 percent of vacant classroom teaching positions. It is not surprising that DOD has some difficulty recruiting teachers for these subjects. Based on Certification, Experience, and Education, the Quality of DOD Overseas Teachers Is High

DOD overseas teachers are well-qualified, with virtually all teachers in DOD schools certified in the subjects or grades they teach. The Current Process for Determining and Paying Teacher Salaries Is Time- Consuming, but DOD Has Little Flexibility to Modify This Process Because of Statutory Requirements

DOD has developed a process for determining and paying overseas teachers’ salaries to meet the requirements of the law and subsequent court cases and arbitrations. Conclusions

DOD overseas schools play a critical role, educating more than 70,000 children of parents in the armed services and the federal civilian workforce. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2002 directed GAO to assess whether the Department of Defense (DOD) overseas teachers’ compensation package is adequate to recruit and retain qualified teachers and to recommend any necessary revisions to the law governing DOD overseas teachers’ salaries.
Why GAO Did This Study

The Department of Defense (DOD) overseas schools educate more than 70,000 children of military service members and DOD civilian employees throughout the world. In order to ensure the continued success of this school system, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 directed GAO to assess whether the DOD overseas teachers' compensation package is adequate to recruit and retain qualified teachers. The act also required GAO to determine whether any revisions to the law governing DOD overseas teachers' salaries were advisable.

What GAO Found

DOD overseas teachers' compensation compares favorably to that of U.S. teachers. In general, DOD overseas teachers receive a standard federal benefit package, including health and life insurance and coverage under the Federal Employees' Retirement System. Many DOD overseas teachers also receive allowances, such as a living quarters allowance, that U.S. teachers do not receive. On average, salaries for DOD overseas teachers are higher than U.S. teachers' salaries. Despite the generous compensation package, there is some dissatisfaction among overseas teachers regarding health care. DOD has little difficulty recruiting and retaining well-qualified teachers for overseas schools. In school year 2001-02, DOD recruiters filled over 99 percent of vacant teacher positions. Based on certification, experience, and education, the quality of DOD overseas teachers is high. Virtually all teachers in DOD schools are certified in the subjects or grades they teach. DOD may have some difficulties recruiting and retaining teachers in a few subject areas and geographic locations, but any such difficulties do not appear to threaten the quality of the overseas teachers workforce. DOD has developed a process for determining and paying teachers' salaries that meets statutory requirements. Although this system is time-consuming and burdensome, techniques that could address these difficulties do not meet legal requirements. Given DOD's success recruiting and retaining well-qualified teachers, it is not advisable at this time to revise the law.