Christie Praises Newark Teacher Contract

Gov. Chris Christie is calling the ratification of a new teacher's contract in Newark the most gratifying day of his governorship to date.

Christie was joined by education and union officials at the Speedway School in Newark Friday to tout the contract as an innovative private-public partnership for the ailing district. He says it should become a model for transforming public education across the country.

New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf calls the contract `revolutionary' and the first of its kind to offer teachers pay bonuses based on performance and allow them to review one another.

The performance pay is funded primarily through a $100 million grant from Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg.

Newark teachers ratified the tentative agreement earlier this week after working without a contract since 2010.

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