Teacher Quality
The quality of a student's education undoubtedly depends on the capabilities of the student's instructors. What programs does the policy promote to ensure that students' instructors are motivated and capable?

Each of the policies that addresses this issue and their proposed steps are below:
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) proposed by U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education

It proposes two programs – Troops-to-teachers and Transition to teaching – that encourage those in the armed forces to become primary or secondary school teachers and set more flexible certification standards for those “mid-career professionals” who are interested in teaching, but did not choose it as a career.


"End the University As We Know It" proposed by Mark Taylor, Chairman, Columbia University Dept. of Religion
Professorial tenure would be abolished and mandatory retirement enforced.  Professors would be hired on renewable seven-year contracts in order to ensure continued accountability and high professorial quality.

New York City Charter School Policy proposed by New York City Council
Consistent with charter schools' enhanced autonomy, NYC schools are free to offer innovative teacher payment plans and other career incentives. These capabilities are meant to attract more talented and 'motivated' instructors.

The Race to the Top Fund proposed by US Department of Education, Arne Duncan
A stated goal of grant-giving under the Race to the Top Fund is improving teacher quality and performance.  Grant money wil be awarded for ideas that explicitly seek to attract more qualified and more effective teachers to local classrooms.

Test Scores and Teacher Tenure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has sought to improve teacher quality by awarding merit over seniority. Linking student performance to teacher tenure through test scores is an intermediate step to the Mayor's ultimate goal. The City argues that predicating tenure decisions on merit will allow schools to retain quality teachers and shed lackluster faculty.

Coming Soon
Re-imagining Community Colleges (CAP) in Education by Center for American Progress



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Policies Related to this Issue
No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) proposed by U.S. Congress, U.S. Department of Education
"End the University As We Know It" proposed by Mark Taylor, Chairman, Columbia University Dept. of Religion
New York City Charter School Policy proposed by New York City Council
The Race to the Top Fund proposed by US Department of Education, Arne Duncan
Test Scores and Teacher Tenure proposed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City