Reading, writing, and paychecks. What’s a teacher worth?

The need to attract and retain teachers has sparked some U.S. states to channel more money into salaries. Now, the federal government will consider the question: What’s a fair wage?

On his first day back from winter break, Dawrin Mota leaves the Las Vegas charter school where he works as a literacy strategist and heads to his second job cleaning houses. 

The side business he and his wife operate keeps cash flowing in to support discretionary spending. On this January evening, his wife cleans one house solo, they do two...