In honor of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's commitment to investing in and reforming education that started 15 years ago, Bill Gates gave his first major education speech in eight years yesterday at the U.S. Education Learning Forum in Seattle.

As anticipated, Gates addressed some of the major issues the foundation has been focusing on over the past several years, specifically discussing in great detail his belief that improving teacher quality will improve education as a whole. He also defended the intent behind Common Core standards.

'We Do Need to Have a System That Defines Excellence'

Though a controversial subject, Gates stood behind the Common Core Standards, defending the standards for its ability to create a nationwide curriculum and increase the ease of innovation.

"Because we have a standard, the Common Core standard, now it's very clear. There's literally a place in that learning line that any innovative piece can be slotted in," he said.

He also defended Common Core math- one of the more controversial aspects of the Common Core as it has caused much frustration on a local level from parents not familiar with the new methods.

"It's unfortunate that many of the attacks against the Common Core have not really focused on what the Common Core is," he said.

"We do need to have a system that defines excellence... The math standards need to be ordered in logical fashion and there's a lot that's been learned on how to do that well."

Foundation is 'Working on the Right Problem'

In addition to discussing his support of the Common Core, Gates also discussed the major initiative his foundation has undertaken over the past eight years- improving teacher quality.

Fifteen years ago, the foundation focused on breaking up larger schools into small learning communities. Now, it has evolved into focusing on improving teacher quality, which Gates said will provide more "systematic results."

In fact, he believes that a collective effort to improve teacher quality could close the low-income achievement gap all together in just three years time.

Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor

10/08/2015