gates goal: empower good teachers

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has a vision.  The foundation believes that “all students should graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college, career, and life.”

But there are some problems with graduation rates AND the prospects of those students who do get a diploma.  Check the statistics:

• Nationwide just over 70 percent of students graduate from high school.
• Graduation rates for African-American, Hispanic, and low-income students are lower still, hovering at slightly more than 50 percent.
• Even with a diploma, only half of graduates leave high school prepared to succeed in college, career, and life.

According to the foundation, the answer is to:  1) Focus on success at a higher level, 2) Support and engage students, and 3) Empower excellent teachers.

In a handful of school districts across the nation, the B&MG Foundation is giving away $500 million (yeah – half a billion!) to ensure that teacher effectiveness becomes a key criteria in the development of policies and implementation of practices that support student achievement.

Hillsborough County Public Schools is expected to be awarded $100 million in that endeavor.

Also see:

• Gates Foundation College Ready For All plan (pdf)
• Hillsborough County Public Schools – Empowering Teachers