BillGates: Spending cuts don't have to harm learning

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Bill Gates addresses the National Governors Association Winter Meeting in Washington, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

(AP) -- Even in the midst of large spending cuts, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said Monday that schools can improve the performance of students if they put more emphasis on rewarding excellent teaching and less emphasis on paying teachers based on seniority and graduate degrees.