AFT planning $1M school reform project

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The American Federation of Teachers, second largest U.S. teachers union, says it plans to introduce a far-reaching $1 million public school reform project.

The AFT said it would put up $1 million and seek additional philanthropic funding to back "sustainable, innovative and collaborative reform projects" in public schools, USA Today reported.

These projects have been developed by AFT teachers over the past several years, the union said in release.

Randi Weingarten, the union's new president, said the fund would support teacher-generated efforts, "something that has been totally absent" from most big school shake-ups.

AFT has more than 1.4 million members, about half currently working in schools.