Getting the Best Teachers into the Toughest Jobs

Even though it has been known for some time that teachers and principals play the largest role in student success, it is only recently that districts and schools have started making requisite changes to their strategic management of talent. This is the central contention of Allan Odden’s new report, Getting the Best People into the Read more about Getting the Best Teachers into the Toughest Jobs[…]

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Reflections on the 2013 International Summit on the Teaching Profession

Back in mid-March, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, hosted the third International Summit on the Teaching Profession.  This particular summit focused on teacher quality, including professional standards and teacher appraisal. The past two took place in New York City at the invitation of Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Marc Tucker of the National Center on Education and the Read more about Reflections on the 2013 International Summit on the Teaching Profession[…]

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TNTP says Teachers’ First Year is Crucial

TNTP, a national nonprofit committed to ending the injustice of educational inequality, has released a new report that seeks to help first year teachers become better teachers. TNTP was created by teachers in 1997, so the TNTP team has a vested interested in creating cohorts of new teachers who have the critical dispositions that they Read more about TNTP says Teachers’ First Year is Crucial[…]

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Education Week presents Common Core Instructional Opportunities

The Common Core State Standards are being introduced in all but five states, presenting the need for immediate and far-reaching instructional changes. This exclusive new online-only special report explores the ways classroom educators, in a variety of subjects and with a diverse range of students, are adapting to the new framework for teaching and learning.  Read more about Education Week presents Common Core Instructional Opportunities[…]

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CAEP “Raising the Bar” for Teacher Education Accreditation Programs

The Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC) and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) are merging into the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). CAEP will become the sole body responsible for the accreditation of teacher education programs and will serve the more than 900 educator preparation providers currently accredited Read more about CAEP “Raising the Bar” for Teacher Education Accreditation Programs[…]

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Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age, Part II

Recently, the Alliance for Excellent Education offered a free webinar entitled, “Perspectives on the Future of Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age, Part II.” This webinar is now available for viewing at http://www.all4ed.org/webinars The panelists included: Tom Carroll, President, National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) Charles Coble, Cofounder and Partner, Teacher Preparation Analytics Read more about Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age, Part II[…]

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Teachers and Common Core: An Ambivalent Relationship

As Common Core implementation deadlines approach, new surveys suggest that teachers are open to using Common Core but may not be prepared to do so. Three and a half years after the launch of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, schools nationwide continue working to implement the new standards in English/language arts and mathematics, which Read more about Teachers and Common Core: An Ambivalent Relationship[…]

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AFT Moves Forward with Bar Exam for Teacher Candidates

AFT President Randi Weingarten recently reaffirmed the AFT’s commitment to increasing the standards for teacher certification. In a follow up to our previous post, American Federation of Teachers calling for an adoption of a bar exam for aspiring teachers, following are Randi Weingarten’s recent comments on the AFT executive council’s adoption of the report on Read more about AFT Moves Forward with Bar Exam for Teacher Candidates[…]

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Technology and Teacher Preparation

Aspiring teachers want more digital avenues for learning, says a new report from Project Tomorrow. The findings are included in the report Learning in the 21st Century: Digital Experiences and Expectations of Tomorrow’s Teachers, prepared by Blackboard Inc. and Project Tomorrow, which includes findings from the Speak Up for Aspiring Teachers survey of nearly 1,400 Read more about Technology and Teacher Preparation[…]

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New Pathways for Teachers, New Promises for Students

In a recent AEI Teacher Quality 2.0 report, Timothy Knowles argues persuasively for radical changes with a practical mindset. His article is called “New pathways for teachers, new promises for students: A vision for developing excellent teachers.” Knowles, John Dewey Director of the University of Chicago’s Urban Education Institute, writing as part of the American Read more about New Pathways for Teachers, New Promises for Students[…]

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Video Teacher Evaluations: Memphis Schools say Yes

Memphis City Schools has partnered with Teachscape to install a city-wide system of video capture systems that will allow for improved teacher professional growth. The city expects to use the system for teacher development, support, as well as evaluation. Each school will have at least one device as part of the district’s long term goal Read more about Video Teacher Evaluations: Memphis Schools say Yes[…]

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January Issue Brief: The Importance of Teachers

With new standards, technology-facilitated curriculum, and extensive formative and summative assessment design, the importance of the teacher is at risk of being overlooked. In study after study, the teacher is held up as the most significant variable for student success. In this month’s issue brief, we explore the importance of teachers and their insights for Read more about January Issue Brief: The Importance of Teachers[…]

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New York State Education Commission Proposes Significant Changes

In April of 2012, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo convened the New NY Education Reform Commission.  Their task was to develop “an actionable course of reforms – based on proven models of success from within New York as well as other states and nations – that will provide the level of educational excellence that Read more about New York State Education Commission Proposes Significant Changes[…]

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AFT calls for Bar Exam for Teacher Candidates

The American Federation of Teachers, led by President Randi Weingarten, has recently published a report entitled “Raising the Bar: Aligning and Elevating Teacher Preparation and the Teaching Profession.” This report calls for a more rigorous process by which teacher candidates would be certified. The process would consist of the following steps: Teachers demonstrating subject area Read more about AFT calls for Bar Exam for Teacher Candidates[…]

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Webinar: Perspectives on the Future of Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age

This Tuesday, the Alliance for Excellent Education will host a webinar entitled “Perspectives on the Future of Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age.” The webinar will be moderated by Mary Ann Wolf of the Alliance for Excellent Education. The panelists, who will provide a diversity of views from different perspectives within the field,will be Barnett Read more about Webinar: Perspectives on the Future of Teacher Preparation in the Digital Age[…]

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NBPTS and edTPA partners to Create Online Video Library for Teacher Preparation

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $3 million “Investing in Innovation” grant to a partnership of educational organizations that will aid in two major educational initiatives: better preparing new teachers and bolstering math and science instruction. The project will operate under the leadership of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and Read more about NBPTS and edTPA partners to Create Online Video Library for Teacher Preparation[…]

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