California's budget crisis jeopardizes the progress made in strengthening the teaching workforce. The threat of impending teacher layoffs will weaken the teacher preparation pipeline and affect the state's ability to attract and retain thousands of teachers it can't afford to lose. If California is to remain committed to strengthening student learning, the policy community must stay focused on establishing a teacher development system that strengthens the quality of teaching, and is capable of producing an adequate number of teachers and placing them where they are needed most.