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Teaching Quality (TQ)
Summary of Recommendations
NCLB Reauthorization

To better inform the national debate on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization, ECS collected and synthesized recommendations by national organizations to improve the federal law.

ECS' database is organized around 16 issue areas that captured most recommendations. Some organizations did not offer recommendations for all issues, at least according to our analysis. And several recommendations appear more than once since they applied to multiple issue areas.

The summary and full text of all organizations' original recommendations for Teaching Quality (TQ) are listed in this report. Please see the main page for additional reports and sources for the database.

Highlights
(See Abbreviation Key at end of table)

Organizations that addressed this issue: 12 of 15
AFT; BCSA; Comm. NCLB; CCSSO; ECS; Ed Trust; FEA; NAESP; NASSP; NCSL; NEA; and NGA

Organizations that did not address this issue: 3 of 15
AASA; NASBE; and NSBA

Comments
Teaching quality was the third most popular issue for NCLB reauthorization recommendations, behind Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Assessment, Standards and Curriculum (ASC). Organizations focused their proposals on high quality professional development; flexibility for meeting highly qualified requirements for special education, middle school and multiple-subject teachers; and incentives to recruit and retain qualified teachers in hard-to-staff schools and high-need subjects.


Visit ECS' Database on NCLB Reauthorization main page for more information, explanations and access to organizations' original reports. Please note that ECS plans to expand the database as more information becomes available.

Database Last Updated: July 2007

This database was created and compiled by Mary Fulton, ECS policy analyst.
For questions and comments: 303.299.3679 or mfulton@ecs.org
NCLB Reauthorization : American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Require district incentives to attract and retain qualified teachers in low performing schools.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide research-based professional development and curricular supports for teachers and paraprofessionals.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Require inservice and preservice training and professional development for paraprofessionals.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Revise highly qualified requirements to consider special education, middle school and other teachers.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Business Coalition for Student Achievement (BCSA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Define qualified teachers with focus on "highly effective teachers."
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure principal and teacher policies improve student achievement and prepare them for postsecondary education and work. Require institutions responsible for educator effectiveness to be evaluated.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation

Institute performance-based pay to improve student achievement and recruit principals and teachers to high need subjects and schools.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation

Base principal and teacher evaluations primarily on improved student performance.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation

Implement policies and practices to quickly and fairly remove ineffective educators.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Commission on No Child Left Behind (Comm. NCLB)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Assess teacher quality on effectiveness to raise student achievement rather than just on qualifications, and change definition to Highly Qualified and Effective Teacher (HQET).
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation

Guarantee professional development to teachers at risk of not attaining new Highly Qualified and Effective Teacher (HQET) status.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Focus teacher and principal professional development funding on activities proven to strengthen teacher instruction.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation

Include principals in needs assessments for teachers and principals before allocating Title II funds.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation

Require all schools to have similar expenditures for teacher salaries and comparable numbers of Highly Qualified and Effective Teachers (HQET).
TQ 6 - Summary of Recommendation Allow principals in Title I schools to refuse transfer of teachers who are not highly qualified and effective.
TQ 7 - Summary of Recommendation Require higher education institutions to set goals for increasing teacher graduates for shortage areas.
TQ 8 - Summary of Recommendation

Require higher education institutions to set goals for linking instruction with needs of schools and demands teachers will face.
TQ 9 - Summary of Recommendation Require districts with high teacher turnover to develop comprehensive plans to recruit and retain effective teachers, including from nontraditional routes.
TQ 10 - Summary of Recommendation

Create incentives for certification and licensing reciprocity agreements across states and study pension portability.
TQ 11 - Summary of Recommendation Require a 12th-grade state assessment to determine performance gains, teacher and principal effectiveness and preparation for college and work.
TQ 12 - Summary of Recommendation

Require states to establish teacher certification endorsement for those spending more than 25% of time instructing ELL students.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Continuously improve teaching force through high quality professional development and multiple pathways to teaching expertise.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Count newly hired teachers as “highly qualified” when meet primary subject standards and on track to meet state HOUSSE requirements.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Count teachers of students with disabilities and ELL students as “highly qualified” if they work with qualified teachers, and offer multiple paths to and measures of subject expertise.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Provide incentives for teacher performance systems based on student growth and successful teachers to serve in challenging schools.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Education Commission of the States (ECS)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation

Ensure states' HOUSSE plans meet letter and spirit of NCLB and set rigorous teacher quality requirements.

TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide clear, consistent and timely guidance regarding highly qualified teachers provisions.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Require states to provide accurate and accessible teacher quality data.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Education Trust (Ed Trust)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Require states to report additional teacher qualification, distribution and attrition information for districts with highest and lowest minority and low-income student enrollment. Require annual reports of district/school needs for qualified teachers, actions to close teacher quality gaps and efforts to measure teacher effectiveness.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Require districts to use Title II funds to address inequities in teacher distribution and support principals' efforts to boost teacher quality.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Prohibit transfer of Title II funds for teacher and principal quality to other Titles under NCLB.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Close High Objective Uniform State System of Evaluation (HOUSSE) loophole by clarifying that this provision applies to veteran, not novice, teachers.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation Require states and districts to assess distribution of qualified teachers across schools, develop plans and goals to address inequities and publish progress reports.
TQ 6 - Summary of Recommendation Withhold Title II funds from states not making progress toward equitable distribution of teachers and require distribution of funds to schools/districts with most acute needs.
TQ 7 - Summary of Recommendation Allow principals in low-performing schools to refuse “involuntary” teacher transfers.
TQ 8 - Summary of Recommendation Encourage states to use student achievement measures to evaluate teacher effectiveness. Establish Incentive Fund to provide state grants for teacher evaluation, professional development, assignment and performance-based compensation initiatives.
TQ 9 - Summary of Recommendation Focus Title II funds on high poverty schools, divided equally between district and principal-led efforts to improve teacher effectiveness.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure teacher and administrator preparation and professional development improve student achievement.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Consider special education teachers as highly qualified if certified and licensed in special education.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Ensure principal, teacher and other education professional qualification criteria are state responsibility.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Provide federal resources for state qualification systems and process to help education professionals perform successfully.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Provide resources to help states recruit and retain qualified principals and teachers in shortage areas.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation Provide assistance and funds for principal and teacher mentoring programs.
TQ 6 - Summary of Recommendation Fund research on instructional leadership, pedagogy and child and adolescent development to inform professional development.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Allocate federal funds for principal/teacher professional development regarding adolescent literacy and use of data to improve student performance.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Prohibit lack of highly qualified teachers to be grounds for litigation.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Allow use of Title II funds for teacher mentoring programs.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Extend time period for special education teachers to become highly qualified until 2007-08.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation Accept special education certificate as highly qualified measure.
TQ 6 - Summary of Recommendation Provide $2,500 yearly tax credit to special education teachers who acquire highly qualified status in English, mathematics or science.
TQ 7 - Summary of Recommendation Provide $2,500 yearly tax credit to highly qualified English, mathematics or science teachers who acquire special education certification.
TQ 8 - Summary of Recommendation Provide special education teachers tuition reimbursement of up to $17,500 after five years of service.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Defer to state certification processes for meeting highly qualified definition for special education teachers.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Allow special education teachers to earn highly qualified status without proving content knowledge for each subject, but through alternative evaluation method.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Allow general and special education teachers not meeting content knowledge requirements to gain highly qualified status by partnering with qualified teachers. 
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Allow multiple-subject teachers to meet highly qualified definition based on single means of evaluation that ensures content knowledge of each subject.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation Allow states to determine circumstances for granting exceptions to highly qualified teacher requirements. For example, hard-to-staff schools may qualify.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Education Association (NEA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Align Title II Teacher Quality State Grant program with National Staff Development Council (NSDC) standards.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Provide federally funded salary enhancements for teachers who achieve National Board Certification.
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Create grant program to compensate teachers who take on new roles to assist colleagues.
TQ 4 - Summary of Recommendation Provide development and education opportunities for support professionals.
TQ 5 - Summary of Recommendation Provide federal grants to pair new teachers with experienced mentor teachers.
TQ 6 - Summary of Recommendation Provide financial incentives for teachers and support professionals who work in low-performing or high-poverty schools.
TQ 7 - Summary of Recommendation Provide hard-to-staff schools with sufficient, well-trained administrators and support professionals, including paraeducators.
TQ 8 - Summary of Recommendation Provide adequate time for paraeducators transferred to Title I schools to meet highly qualified standards.
TQ 9 - Summary of Recommendation Grant reciprocity across states and districts for highly qualified paraeducators.
TQ 10 - Summary of Recommendation Revise highly qualified teacher definition to recognize state licensure/certification and eliminate nonessential requirements and loopholes.
TQ 11 - Summary of Recommendation Provide additional time for teachers to become highly qualified if significant implementation problems have occurred.
TQ 12 - Summary of Recommendation Include effective parental communication and engagement strategies in teacher professional development.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National Governors Association (NGA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation Support states' efforts to create highly qualified teacher workforce, and ensure professional development is aligned with states standards and improves student achievement.
TQ 2 - Summary of Recommendation Support strategies to encourage excellent teachers to accept challenging assignments, but do not create federal programs linking teacher preparation with student performance. 
TQ 3 - Summary of Recommendation Provide flexibility for teachers of multiple subjects in high-need areas, particularly for special education and rural teachers.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)

NCLB Reauthorization : National School Boards Association (NSBA)
Capacity Building, Innovation and Research & Development (CIRD)
Teaching Quality (TQ)
TQ 1 - Summary of Recommendation No recommendations identified for this issue.
Parent and Community Involvement (CPI)


Abbreviation Key for Organizations
AASA = American Association of School Administrators
AFT = American Federation of Teachers
BCSA = Business Coalition for Student Achievement
Comm. NCLB = Commission on No Child Left Behind
CCSSO = Council of Chief State School Officers
ECS = Education Commission of the States
Ed Trust = Education Trust
FEA = Forum on Educational Accountability
NAESP = National Association of Elementary School Principals
NASBE = National Association of State Boards of Education
NASSP = National Association of Secondary School Principals
NCSL = National Conference of State Legislatures
NEA = National Education Association
NGA = National Governors Association
NSBA = National School Boards Association


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