From New York City comes more evidence that performance pay, be it school-based or teacher-based, is gathering steam.

Teachers and principals in 89 high-poverty schools in NYC are receiving bonuses totaling $14.2 million in recognition of their students’ increased achievement. Teacher bonuses range from $3,000 to $1500; Principals at the 12 highest achieving eligible schools received a bonus of $25,000.

Created in partnership with the teacher’s union, each school receiving the bonus got a pot of money to distribute as it chose. Most schools awarded bonuses to support staff in addition to teachers.

The president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), one of the two national teachers unions, said her union would support similar initiatives across the county as long as it is collectively bargained and is school-based – unlike merit pay which “can pit teachers against each other.”

While AFT doesn’t have a large presence in Washington State, union support of performance pay in other states is an encouraging sign for future possibilities in our state.