The Newark Teachers Union, a branch of the American Federation of Teachers (i.e., not NJEA), will sign on to NJ’s Race To The Top application. NJ Spotlight reports that NTU President Joseph Del Grosso said he’s all for merit pay and tenure reform, not just the $400 million.

“[Merit pay] can work under the right circumstances,” he said. “I don’t think it should be just about test scores, that’s ludicrous, but a lot of different things …. But we should be able to recognize people who do something extra.”

And Mr. Del Grosso on NJEA’s leadership: “We get along good. But they don’t listen to me.”