Catherwood LibraryILR School

the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers' voted to approve a new three year contract that runs from August 2009 to August 2012. The contract includes two 3% raises and a new bonus system that is based on the performances of schools. The bonuses will reward the entire staff at schools, a measure which many approve of, saying that it is a much fairer way to award bonuses. The contract also gives schools more power in hiring teachers, a system to evaluate new and unsatisfactory students, more power to remake failing schools and teachers the power to defend themselves from attacks. In the 2010-2011 school year schools with a high level of student growth will receive bonuses and in the 2011-2012 school year bonuses will be given to the highest performing schools and the best of the worst schools. The contract effects around 17,000 teachers and staff in the 167,000 student district.