This is a study of district internal salary distribution practices and its effect on retention. The study is a replication study as recommended by Jacobson (1986) and Lankford and Wyckoff (1997) whereby their research shows the prevalence of "back loading" and ineffectiveness relative to retention. In the case of this study, the distribution of increments at mid-career salary steps relative to those at veteran career salary steps of a salary schedule were examined specifically for 65 districts in Western New York which comprise the Western New York BOCES region. The BOCES component districts studied are ERIE I BOCES, ERIE II BOCES, MONROE I BOCES, AND MONROE II BOCES regions for the years 1998-2010. This study confirms that the policy habit of back loading does not continue to exist as reported in earlier studies and consequences of internal salary distribution practices are discussed. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]