In a joint appearance with Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a targeted change to teacher tenure in New York City public schools. It was only one component in Bloomberg’s larger campaign to transform the city’s education system.

To begin changing the incentive structure for teachers. Particularly, the proposed reforms would change how teachers are compensated and how tenure is rewarded. It favors ‘merit over seniority.’

Mayor Bloomberg declared that student test scores will play a role in the determination of teacher tenure. The reform marks a data-driven approach to education reform, a strategy that federal Race to the Top grants favor. The change in policy would allow principals to consider student test scores in determining tenure, but not as the only factor. The New York State Legislature banned the use of test scores in determining tenure in 2008. The ban expires in 2010.

New York City contends that it has limited authority to implement the reform for some teachers without permission from the legislature. However, for the reform to stand in years to come, the Legislature must reverse or refuse to renew its ban.