Time to set aside the WASL and budget debates--here’s something brighter--the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation annual letter. In the letter released Monday, Bill Gates talks about the work the foundation has done and plans to do in different areas such as global health and agriculture, and of course education. And it’s nice to know we share the same vision, to ensure students graduate from high school ready to go to college.

In the letter about the foundations work in education, Gates writes about a national goal: “to ensure that 80 percent of our students graduate from high school fully ready to attend college by 2025.” We couldn’t agree more. And one step toward that goal is making sure great and effective teachers are in the classrooms.

Excerpt from Gates 2009 Annual Letter on Education:

One of the key things these schools have done is help their teachers be more effective in the classroom. It is amazing how big a difference a great teacher makes versus an ineffective one. Research shows that there is only half as much variation in student achievement between schools as there is among classrooms in the same school. If you want your child to get the best education possible, it is actually more important to get him assigned to a great teacher than to a great school.

Here at PFL we continue to communicate about stand out teachers, so educators can continue to learn from each other. While Gates focus is on a national level, we are committed to doing our part here in Washington. And despite any tough challenges that lie ahead (and Gates mentions a few, small schools anyone?), nothing is more important than continuing to improve our schools so children can be prepared for college when they graduate from high school.