WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., has introduced legislation that would provide money to states and local school districts to develop performance-pay systems for their teachers.

The bill, which Kline introduced Wednesday with Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., would establish the Teacher Incentive Fund that would provide seed money for states and schools to reward teachers for improving student academic achievement, according to a statement released by the House Education and Labor Committee.

“The Teacher Incentive Fund puts states and local communities firmly in control of efforts to improve teacher quality,” said Kline, who is the lead Republican on the Education Committee. “This is precisely the type of reform we should be embracing - models that allow parents, teachers, and local school leaders to work together to develop systems that meet each community’s unique needs. I commend Education Secretary Duncan for his efforts to expand performance-pay systems to promote and reward teacher quality, and I thank Rep. Price for advancing this bipartisan concept through a flexible, locally driven program.”