This testimony highlights two components of the 1998 amendments to the Higher Education Act (which were intended to enhance the quality of classroom teaching by improving training programs for prospective teachers and qualifications of current teachers). One component provides grants, and another, called the "accountability provisions," requires…

This brief notes that very few states have developed comprehensive policies to improve and support their teaching force as they implement other education reforms. In creating a coherent system of teacher support, one important place to begin is with the state board of education, which has broad authority over teacher preparation and licensure.…

This report provides state policymakers with a review of current issues and challenges in the professional development of teachers. The changing role of states in professional development is examined, and it is argued that while state involvement in professional development programs has increased, inadequate attention is being paid to the quality…

This policy brief draws together research, ideas, and initiatives on improving teaching quality, especially materials from states in the Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory's region. It is intended to help policymakers think about which policies might foster improved teacher quality and how to combine policies into an integrated strategy…

This publication focuses on the teaching quality goals and priorities of nine Southeastern U.S. states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee), reviewing each state's Title II proposals. The report highlights seven priority areas of focus for regional alliances: constructing…