Report: More failing teachers in NYC poor areas

Report find there are more failing teachers in NYC's poor districts

NEW YORK (AP) -- A new report has found that students in poor neighborhoods of New York City are more likely to have bad teachers.

The StudentsFirstNY report said that 3.4 percent of teachers in those neighborhoods were rated unsatisfactory during the 2011-12 school year.

By contrast, only 1.3 percent of teachers in wealthier neighborhoods received the low rating.

StudentsFirstNY made various recommendations including approving a new system that grades teachers.

The city and teachers union have until Jan. 17 to reach agreement on a teachers evaluations system.

Teachers currently are evaluated by principals who assign a satisfactory or unsatisfactory rating.

The Department of Education said it's already applying many of the report's recommendations.

Teachers' union President Michael Mulgrew told the New York Times he'd support paying the best teachers to mentor other teachers.