Bill Gates lauds city's steps to improve schools

This from the Pittsburg Post Gazette:

Calls teacher's contract

model to renew profession

With its recently adopted teacher performance initiatives, the Pittsburgh school district offers a model for other U.S. teachers and administrators who are working together to improve public education, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates said Saturday.

Mr. Gates lauded key aspects of the collective bargaining agreement the city school district recently reached with the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers as "the kinds of changes that can renew the profession of teaching." He spoke in Seattle during the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers.

Specifically, he cited two bonus programs woven into the five-year contract that introduced merit pay for teachers in city public schools.

"In Pittsburgh, they're creating incentives for highly effective teachers to go into low-performing schools. In certain schools, if students have better-than-expected gains in learning, their teachers earn additional pay," he said.

"In another program, teachers will work as a team with a group of incoming ninth-graders and stay with those kids for two years. If at the end of 10th grade the kids are on track for college, the whole team will get a bonus." ...