Teachers Could Earn More Under Obama Plan

States that want a piece of the Obama administration's $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund for schools must hew to internationally benchmarked academic standards and let schools pay teachers and principals more if they work in hard-to-staff schools — or if student scores improve on basic skills tests. In detailed draft guidelines being released today in Washington, President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan lay out their most forceful proposals on public schools. States won't be eligible for the money unless they get rid of legal barriers that prohibit tying teacher pay to test scores — a bid aimed directly at California. Duncan says the state has erected a legal "firewall" that keeps schools from paying educators more for improved performance.