The city wanted to incorporate merit pay into its evaluation plan submitted to the state, but the UFT wouldn't agree.

WSJ: Thompson Proposes Plan for Teacher Merit Wages

Mr. Thompson's plan bears some resemblance to merit-pay systems opposed by teachers unions in New York and elsewhere but it has differences, such as paying highly rated teachers more for taking on more challenging assignments.

WSJ: Thompson Proposes Plan for Teacher Merit Wages

If the savings are as significant as to merit single-payer, such a plan should more than pay for itself.

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