Teacher pay has become a big contender in the education reform space, with growing agreement that paying educators a livable wage is essential to building a strong, stable workforce . At the same time, policymakers continue to grapple with a related challenge: how to retain effective teachers . A new study brings these two strands together, examining how a statewide minimum salary policy shapes teacher retention and offering fresh insight into whether boosting baseline pay can help schools hold on to the talent they need most.