Increasing the Odds: How Good Policies Can Yield Better Teachers
Kate Walsh and Christopher Tracy, National Council on Teacher Quality
November 2004
The latest report from the National Council on Teacher Quality is a useful compendium of "well-designed and well-executed studies" of effective teachers and the qualities they share. This colorful book strips out statistical jargon to focus on big, consequential ideas. According to NCTQ, the best research suggests that credentials traditionally used by school districts and policymakers to hire or reward teachers - e.g. traditional certification, emphasis on education courses in college - may not deserve as much weight. Instead, placing increased value on teachers' academic ability, including literacy level and subject-matter coursework in the secondary levels, would more accurately identify highly qualified teachers. In the end, though, great teachers possess a combination of academic capability and "soft attributes" such as being organized, motivating, respectful, and responsible. To read the report, click here.
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