When it comes to ensuring every student gets great teachers, state governments play a crucial and underappreciated role. Without access to the right data, school systems will struggle to match the supply and demand for new teachers. Without certification policies that prioritize student impact over paper credentials, too many talented people will be shut out of the teaching profession. And without pressure to prioritize teacher diversity, many preparation programs simply won't. This issue brief outlines a policy agenda that can help boost the number of great teachers in any state by: (1) strengthening teacher pipelines; (2) improving certification rules; and (3) diversifying the teacher workforce. Along with recommendations, this brief shares examples of states that have implemented some of these policy ideas--and stories from practitioners showing why they matter. This brief also includes detailed profiles of the teacher policy landscape in eight data-rich states--Arkansas, California, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Texas. Policymakers can read the issue summaries, use the suggested questions to analyze their current policies, and find ideas in the case studies and profiles of other states. Advocacy organizations can learn about these issues and best practices in other states to start conversations and begin organizing around key policy changes.