In the 2008-2009 school year, The New Teacher Project (TNTP) partnered with Denver Public Schools (DPS) and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) to assess the effectiveness of current teacher performance management policies and practices. DPS and the DCTA have been national leaders in their willingness to examine the difficult issues…

One of the most important things school systems can do to promote student achievement is to ensure that all students have effective teachers. Effective teachers may be particularly important for the most disadvantaged students. The U.S. Department of Education commissioned the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to create this report as a…

Policy shapes practice, and the increasingly important realm of professional development is no exception. In order to identify effective professional development policies and strategies, a Stanford University research team examined the policy frameworks supporting high levels of professional development activity in four states. The…

Building a stronger teacher workforce requires the thoughtful orchestration of multiple processes working together in a human capital system. This white paper presents a framework that can be used to take stock of current efforts to enhance the teacher workforce in school districts or educational organizations, as well as their underlying theories…

The 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" provided a comprehensive review of states' policies that impact the teaching profession. As a companion to last year's comprehensive state-by-state analysis, the 2010 edition provides each state with an individualized "Blueprint for Change," building off last year's "Yearbook"…

Improving teacher effectiveness is high on the list of most education reformers in Colorado, as it is nationally. Effective teaching in the elementary years is of vital importance to ensure not only that children master fundamental skills, but that performance gaps narrow rather than widen beyond repair. Disadvantaged students can catch up…

Schools and districts rarely have a fair distribution of teacher talent. Poor children and black children are less likely to be taught by the strongest teachers and more likely to be taught by the weakest. Several districts have implemented programs to reduce the teacher quality gap. Hamilton County, Tennessee, launched an initiative that included…

This study identified policies to increase states' role in teacher professional development in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. It examined which elements defined each state's professional development policy and the extent to which policies were consistent with research on effective professional…

A successful, large-scale staff development program at a Colorado elementary school is described. The article focuses on initial district administrative support, transition to a teacher-directed program, and the voluntary peer coaching program which kept the excitement alive and ensured that training was firmly incorporated into teachers' daily…

Reports a study that examined the degree to which secondary student teachers' knowledge about their teaching was accelerated by their training in the use of the Low Inference Self-Assessment Measure (in which they analyzed an audiotape of their instruction). The subjects all considered the process beneficial to their teaching. (SM)

For five years running, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has tracked states' teacher policies, preparing a detailed and thorough compendium of teacher policy in the United States on topics related to teacher preparation, licensure, evaluation, career advancement, tenure, compensation, pensions and dismissal. The "2011 State…

In order to successfully implement an early childhood career development system, it is necessary to coordinate funds and training opportunities from many different sources. This action pack is designed to help individuals involved in such statewide efforts learn how to navigate the financing system that currently supports training for early care…

The objectives of the Northern Colorado Outdoor Nature Center Project are to: (1) develop an outdoor nature center and an environmental education laboratory; (2) develop multidiscipline curriculum guides for grades K-12; (3) assist teachers in developing skills necessary to teach effectively in the outdoor setting; and (4) develop student…

Discusses the roles and responsibilities of teacher leaders who help other teachers implement new curricula, noting the perceptions of teachers and administrators regarding teacher leaders. Teacher leaders provide building-level staff development plus individual support. The article looks at changing teacher roles, then presents six elements of…

Describes the Building Resource Teacher (BRT) position in one Colorado school district. Each elementary and middle school has a BRT who works with other teachers as a resident mentor, coach, and resource provider. The paper discusses what makes the BRT program successful. Three sidebars present lessons of the BRT program, how the program was…