STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG AND SCHOOLS CHANCELLOR DENNIS M. WALCOTT ON NEW STUDY CONFIRMING CITY'S APPROACH TO RETAINING EFFECTIVE TEACHERS

“Our Administration has long said that effective teachers are the most important factor in a student’s education, which is why we are constantly working to attract and reward the best and brightest. The study released today by TNTP – and which New York City participated in –confirms that school districts across the country must do more to keep great teachers in our classrooms. That’s exactly why we have offered to add a $20,000 annual stipend to the salaries of teachers who are rated highly effective for two consecutive years. Earlier this month, President Obama also outlined a bold plan to pay exceptional teachers an annual stipend. Unfortunately, the United Federation of Teachers continues to stand in the way of these incentives, which New York City public school teachers deserve. It’s time for the union to work with us so that our irreplaceable teachers can take full advantage of these and other opportunities.”