NCTQ Releases 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide

Guide highlights leading state work across important policy areas that impact teacher quality

  • 03/29/18

Who: National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a non-partisan research and policy organization dedicated to ensuring every classroom has an effective teacher.

What: NCTQ's 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide which highlights leading state work across 37 different policy areas that impact teacher quality. This resource serves as a guide to all states seeking concrete ideas and examples of how to improve teacher policy.  

Despite consistent concerns regarding whether states are acting quickly and ambitiously enough to improve the quality of the teacher workforce, there is great work happening across many states in important policy areas affecting teacher quality. By expanding the knowledge and awareness of these exemplary policies and practices currently being implemented, this tool provides states with a sense of what is possible, along with the necessary information to catalyze improvement, as they seek to drive positive change for their teachers and students.

Notable state policies to improve teacher quality highlighted in this comprehensive guide include:

  • Louisiana, New York, and Rhode Island are the only states that require elementary special education teachers to pass the same elementary content tests as general education teachers, as well as require that secondary special education teachers pass rigorous licensure tests across all subject areas they intend to teach.
  • North Carolina allows teachers to be compensated for prior work experience by awarding them one year of credit on the salary schedule for every year of full-time, relevant, non-teaching work experience.
  • Utah provides annual salary supplements to teachers with corresponding degrees assigned to teach in shortage-subjects, as well as to teachers employed in high-poverty schools who achieve a median growth percentile of 70 percent or higher.
  • New Mexico is the only state that requires elementary candidates to complete an academic content major; three additional states--Connecticut, Mississippi, and Oklahoma--require elementary candidates to have a concentration in an academic subject area. 
  • Florida and Alabama require teacher preparation institutions to provide remediation, at no additional cost, for graduates who do not achieve satisfactory teacher evaluation ratings during their first two years in the classroom.

To view the 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide click here. 

 

Featured

  • Texas District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The Splendora Independent School District (SISD) in Splendora, Texas, recently broke ground on a replacement facility for Greenleaf Elementary School, according to a news release. The district partnered with planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) for the project.

  • All Surfaces Hires New Commercial Business Development Specification Manager

    Flooring solutions provider All Surfaces recently announced that it has hired industry veteran Mechelle Bliss as its new Commercial Business Development Specification Manager, according to a news release. In her new role, she’ll be responsible for expanding the organization’s hold in various commercial markets, as well as strengthening relationships with existing clients.

  • MiEN Releases White Paper on Community College Space Innovation

    MiEN Company recently released a new white paper called “Designing New Innovative Spaces for Community Colleges” to address the needs of community colleges post-pandemic, according to a news release. The eight-page guide by Dr. Christina Counts, MiEN Company VP of Education and Marketing, covers topics like the enrollment drop that these schools have seen since COVID-19, the roles they play in higher education and local workforces, and five suggested key changes that can improve students’ experiences.

  • Boosting Student Wellness and Safety Through Indoor-Outdoor School Spaces

    Engaging students through facilities designed for indoor and outdoor learning and activities reflects a growing awareness of how children learn and thrive, with educators recognizing the importance of getting outside and disconnecting from technology. And, as today’s youth grapple with the urgent mental health crisis of increased anxiety and loneliness fueled by both the pandemic and technology, along with a related crisis in youth physical health, the wellness benefits of getting outside have never been so palpable.