MEMPHIS — The Memphis school board is expected to sign an agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will provide $90 million for a plan to change how teachers are hired, evaluated and retained.

The Commercial Appeal reported that the Seattle-based foundation will confirm the recipients of its education grants in an announcement Thursday morning. Memphis is one of four cities expecting approval.

The money to improve teacher effectiveness will be distributed by the newly formed Memphis City School Foundation, which is headed by Kim Wirth, executive director of the International Paper Foundation.

While the Gates foundation will fund the bulk of the project, the district must contribute $36 million. About $3 million a year must come from community philanthropists.