New Guidebook: What You Need to Know About Teacher Quality

Posted by on October 31, 2010

A tale of two teachers

A new guidebook and website from the Joyce Foundation on teacher quality is aimed at parents, community leaders, school administrators, and policymakers. It lays out two stories of the same teacher: one who receives the right support to help her students succeed, and one who does not. The guidebook suggests teacher effectiveness policies and provides tactical information on how to hire good teachers, raise standards of performance, and help teachers thrive in their careers. The guide also encourages parents to stand up for their children’s right to a quality education, and includes a list of key questions for parents to ask their schools, administrators, and state legislators as they advocate for change. “People often assume that the struggles of our schools rest solely on the shoulders of teachers,” said Tim Daly of the New Teacher Project. “The truth is, our teachers are working within a system that has neglected them for decades. This guidebook shows exactly what that broken system looks like and offers an alternative vision that would benefit teachers and students.” Also included is a complementary guidebook that outlines the steps that advocates can take to improve the way we recruit, support, evaluate, and reward teachers.

To see the guidebook and website: http://www.joycefdn.org/teacherquality/