NCTQ

A child's ability to read shapes everything that comes next in school and in life. Strong readers start with prepared teachers. Our next report has fresh data on how well teacher prep programs prepare aspiring teachers in the science of reading. Mark your calendars for 6/9!

Districts are scrambling to make every dollar count amid budget declines. One underexamined place to look: master's degree premiums. Large districts spend millions on them annually, with no clear return on student outcomes or teacher effectiveness. buff.ly/1IOZrXY

Every student deserves a high-quality education. Getting there requires effective teachers, and that means states must hold teacher prep programs to a high standard. Here's @HeatherPeske on why state accountability for teacher prep isn't optional. buff.ly/XYfMUym

Class sizes in the U.S. dropped by nearly 10 students from 1950 to 1994, with no improvement in student achievement. NYC is now spending billions to reduce class sizes across all schools regardless of student need. We explored the implications of the law. buff.ly/B9tgOAF

Low pay gets most of the blame for teacher burnout and turnover, but working conditions and work-life balance matter, too. New NCTQ + @RANDCorporation research examines the benefits districts offer to see where leaders can better support their teachers. buff.ly/UZRkLgf

Would substitute teachers in your district make more at Walmart or Costco? In 35% of large districts, the top substitute pay rate is lower than the top retail pay rate. Districts need to pay more than the next-best option to build strong substitute pools. buff.ly/JlQsH8w

Perceptions of the teaching profession and teachers’ job satisfaction are at the lowest point in over 75 years. We examined how offering teachers more flexibility and better benefits, competitive with other professionals, can make a difference. buff.ly/UZRkLgf

A new study on team-based teaching models shows promising retention results. Teachers working in collaborative staffing models were about 50% less likely to leave their schools or districts than teachers in traditional roles. buff.ly/T5Hm7dE

Nearly a third of states require school districts to offer higher salaries for master’s degrees, even though research consistently finds that master's degrees don't improve teacher effectiveness or student outcomes. buff.ly/o1qEaPu

Special education and English learner teacher shortages have persisted for decades. Differentiated pay is an effective lever to address them, but few states use it. buff.ly/ji5CcHO

Job alert! NCTQ is hiring a Project Coordinator to support a new initiative to transform teacher prep at the state and program levels. Part-time, remote, 20-month contract. Apply by May 22: buff.ly/z9bDidO

@KJWinEducation Well said indeed. Only one more month until release. ⌛️

Well said. And @NCTQ 's release on June 9th will shed more light on this topic.

Teachers in states with high-quality reading licensure tests have a firmer grasp of reading science, new @educationgadfly data shows. Strong tests help raise the bar for new teachers and hold prep programs accountable for what they're teaching. buff.ly/PTzPlOA

Grow-your-own programs help expand the teacher pipeline and drive diversity, but findings from a new study of Maryland's high school teacher pathway suggest that retaining teachers of color in their home districts requires more intentional support. buff.ly/HIgrUS7

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! 💙 Great teachers inspire curiosity, build confidence, and leave a mark on their students that lasts a lifetime. The educators who dedicate themselves to that work deserve our gratitude and our support today and every day. Thank you, teachers!

Paid parental leave leads to healthier families and a more stable workforce, yet two-thirds of states offer teachers no guaranteed paid time off beyond sick days. Only Arkansas and Delaware provide full pay for 12 weeks. See where your state stands. 👇 buff.ly/tWNP9Le

District leaders have a lot on their plates. Each month, NCTQ shares research on policy trends from large districts nationwide and translates it into insights these leaders can act on. 📬️ Sign up to get the District Trendline in your inbox: buff.ly/1yKeB3z

New teachers are routinely assigned the most challenging classrooms, but research suggests this harms them and their students. Harder assignments slow their development and increase turnover among novice teachers. buff.ly/WHk9vDF

NCTQ President @HeatherPeske joined leaders from @TeachPlus, @Gallup, @WaltonFamilyFdn, and @BPC_Bipartisan yesterday afternoon to discuss new national data on the teacher workforce and policy changes that can strengthen it. 👏 Tune in here: buff.ly/ArelvLA

Managing student behavior is a top source of stress for more than half of teachers. Stronger prep can change that. Our new framework identifies the knowledge and skills teacher candidates need to build well-managed, supportive classrooms from day one. buff.ly/2q4g5mS