Topic: Teacher Workforce Policy
Teacher Workforce Policy
State Policies to Prepare and Support Teachers Throughout Their Careers
The most important thing a school can do for a student’s education is to ensure she has a good teacher. And states need a strong teacher workforce to increase student achievement. To help state leaders address teacher shortages and improve policies to prepare, certify, compensate and provide professional growth for teachers. SREB:
- tracks policies, actions and research across the continuum to help policymakers with decisions
- convenes leaders to examine promising policies and decide together what will work in their own states
- provides assistance with planning as states put policies into action
Teacher Career Continuum
Today, many schools struggle to find good teachers and keep them in the profession. One way states can address this problem is to focus policies for each stage in the profession’s career continuum.
When states recognize these distinct needs, educators can grow more effective and be compensated for improving. Aligning policies across the continuum also signals that teaching is a profession with an attractive career path.
State Education Human Capital Roundtables
Education human capital roundtables in several states are having challenging conversations on how to improve the quality of their teaching workforce through targeted recruitment, preparation, retention and professional growth strategies. To support them, SREB:
- tracks policies, actions and research across the continuum to help policymakers with decisions
- convenes leaders to examine promising policies and decide together what will work in their own states
- provides assistance with planning as states put policies into action
First-Year Teacher Support Strategies and Programs
On average each year, 8% of teachers leave the profession. Reasons for educator departure vary, but among first-year teachers, lack of support is one of the top reasons cited in national teacher surveys for early career departure. To retain teachers and help them become better educators, comprehensive first-year support is vital. This paper highlights some of the supports offered throughout the region, such as mentorship and innovative professional growth support, as well as how states across the nation fund support programs.
How Could States and Districts Improve Teacher Working Conditions?
Examples of Initiatives From Around the South
On average, 8% of teachers leave the profession each year, many citing poor working conditions. State policymakers can improve the environment for educators through early career induction, mentoring, professional learning, school leadership, tiered certification, career lattices and advanced teacher roles. This briefing offers specific examples from SREB states and three steps to consider.
The Effects of Teacher Preparation and Training Options
A Review of the Research
SREB reviewed research on the effects of various teacher preparation and training options. The brief includes a comparison of the impact on student achievement of traditional teacher preparation programs and alternative pathways. The report takes a look at how advanced degrees and certifications impact teacher effectiveness and retention.
Top Five State Education Issues for 2020
This report provides an overview of the top five education issues on the 2020 legislative agendas in SREB states, including:
• workforce
• postsecondary access and affordability
• K-12 funding
• the educator workforce
• school safety and school climate
State Efforts to Promote Teacher Leadership
In the face of teacher shortages, state leaders have an opportunity to explore ways of remaking the teaching profession from the inside out, rather than relying solely on short-term solutions. One strategy: teacher leadership and mentorship initiatives. This brief highlights how education leaders in six states used three levers ─ certification, pay and recognition ─ to identify and retain teacher leaders.
Educator Preparation Program Accountability in Selected States
SREB conducted research on how states create performance accountability systems for teacher education programs. This brief describes how states go about developing performance measures and creating public report cards. The document’s appendix includes program accountability profiles for all SREB states and nine additional states.
Mentoring New Teachers: A Fresh Look
Three actionable ways for states, districts and schools to support new teachers by meeting the real needs of both novices and mentors