A report is given on a task force exploration of teacher shortages and surpluses and the effect they have on the quality of teacher education programs. Data are presented for the nation, geographic regions, and 16 states: Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, and Wyoming. Chapter 1 reviews the literature on supply and demand and presents an analysis of national, regional, and state data. Conclusions based on these data are also presented. Chapter 2 presents a mathematics and science case study which gathered, analyzed, and reported efforts underway to alleviate shortages in these fields. Chapter 3 is devoted to the issue of quality in teacher education programs. It reports on an analysis of a survey of actions being taken by schools, colleges, and departments of education to meet the increased demand for higher quality teacher education graduates. Chapter 4, the final chapter, presents conclusions and recommendations based upon the relationship between shortage/surplus/quality issues and change now occurring in teacher education. (JD)