CTP Publications Related to this Study:

Revisiting What States are Doing to Improve the Quality of Teaching: An Update on Patterns and Trends

State Action to Improve Teaching

CTP STUDY DESCRIPTION

Analysis of State Initiatives to Improve the Quality of Teaching

Principal Investigators:

Eric Hirsch, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Julia Koppich, Koppich & Associates
Michael Knapp, University of Washington

Overview:

This analysis updated a CTP Working Paper done two years earlier entitled What States Are Doing to Improve the Quality of Teaching, which drew on the NCSL's state tracking system and other sources (e.g., The Education Week Quality Counts series). The earlier piece, by Eric Hirsch of NCSL, Julie Koppich, and Michael Knapp, offered descriptive patterns of activity across all 50 states in five realms of improvement effort: (1) promoting visions of good teaching and learning; (2) attracting, rewarding, and retaining capable people in teaching; (3) improving the initial preparation and induction of teachers; (4) motivating and supporting teachers' ongoing professional learning; and (5) enhancing the school workplace environment.

Main Research Questions:

Across all 50 states, what have state educational policymakers done in the past several years to:

1. Develop and promote high standards for student learning and for teaching?
2. Attract, reward, and retain capable people in the teaching profession?
3. Support high-quality initial preparation and induction of new teachers?
4. Motivate and support teachers' ongoing professional learning?
5. Enhance the school workplace environment?

Method:

Document review

Status:

Research Completed

Publications:

CTP Working Paper: Revisiting What States are Doing to Improve the Quality of Teaching: An Update on Patterns and Trends, by Eric Hirsch, NCSL, Julia Koppich, Koppich & Associates, Michael Knapp, University of Washington, February 2001.

CTP Policy Brief: State Action to Improve Teaching, December 1999.