Klein touts NYC gains at TC Colloquium
At a
Teachers College colloquium this past week sponsored by TC’s Office of Policy
and Research, Joel Klein,
Klein cited gains across a wide range of academic markers, from significant increases in student math and reading scores to a surge in graduation rates after nearly 30 years of stagnation. A large part of the success, he said, was due to the Mayor’s ability to limit the power and funding of school boards, and tie the funding system to students instead of schools.
Klein
acknowledged audience member Michael Rebell, the head of
Teachers College’s Campaign for Educational Equity, who previously won a series of court orders against
In particular, Klein touted a number of leadership incentive programs, such as a program that can give principals bonuses of $25,000 or more if they have an excellent record, mentor other principals and are willing to lead high-needs schools. “You’ll have some principals making more than $200,000 a year, which will increase our ability to attract and retain the best candidates,” he said. He also noted a similar program for teachers offering bonuses of up to $10,000.
There’s still work left to do, Klein said. It upsets him that tenure is awarded to 99 percent of the teachers who remain in the public schools after three years on the job. “It shouldn’t be that way,” he said. “It certainly isn’t the case at Teachers College. Tenure is something to be earned.”
In a question-and-answer session following Klein’s talk, Rebell asked the Chancellor about reports that the city’s lead teachers program was faltering. Klein said that policy results take time. “You have to create a new culture” before policies can take hold, he said.
Asked
about impediments that might prevent other cities from
replicating
Still, Klein said, “the best days are ahead for best practices in education.”
Published Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2008