There was a very good piece on a new D.C. charter school on 60 minutes Sunday evening. They pay teachers $125,000/year, no contract, no union, strictly a pay for performance standard with the principle having absolute authority, and if the students don't perform within 3 or 4 years, the principle is gone too. All the students seem to come from lower socio-economic strata - is there any other kind in D.C.? - and they are doing pretty well, but it takes time to turn this kind of tide.