The Choice Channel

“In a visit to Philadelphia yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings touted a $100 million federal fund to reward teachers and principals who raise student achievement in high-need schools, and city schools chief Paul Vallas was eager to apply for a share. Spellings said the fund could be used for ‘merit pay’ plans for teachers and principals who improve performance in the schools. The Education Department next week will solicit funding applications from school districts and other interested parties. This strategy is part of the federal government’s attempt to offer incentives, rather than sanctions, to spur change. ‘We’re going to pay additional resources to people who work in more challenging environments and get better results with kids,’ Spellings said during an early-afternoon news conference at the Philadelphia School District’s administration building. Her comments came at the U.S. Department of Education’s first summit on educational issues designed to help school districts reach wide-ranging goals under the federal No Child Left Behind law.” (04/28/06)