Teach Plus

3 strategies the state of Arkansas can use to address absenteeism and literacy by constructing systems that catch students before they fall further behind, from the classroom of @teachplusar Policy Fellow Patricia Walker-Swinton: arkansasonline.com/news/2026/may/…

My ride to DCA is here. Ready to roll for @teachplus Hill Day. Gonna go hang with brilliant people and talk education & policy with my offices for the next three days.

In a new @TeachPlusPA report, "Closing the Gap: Real-World Returns on Pennsylvania's Adequacy Funding," the teachers found that schools that have invested adequacy funds in evidence-based ways are seeing positive impact on student outcomes. Read more: teachplus.org/resource/closi…

"We need teacher leadership models that empower classroom teachers to lead rather than leave." @TeachPlusPA Policy Fellow Trey Smith shares how Pennsylvania should reorganize staffing models to recruit and retain high-quality teachers for students: buckscountybeacon.com/2026/04/a-bett…

"What if students help design adult learning?" Leading Edge Fellow Ashley Kannan built a student cohort that did just that. His students piloted AI tools and became experts. Read more about what the students learned: dailyherald.com/20260427/colum…

CEDAN is working to build the diverse, fully prepared educator workforce CA students deserve. One priority: increase compensation to stabilize the educator workforce and expand affordable pathways into teaching. #CEDAN #CaliforniaEducators #EducatorDiversity

“Teaching allows all other professions to be possible. Teacher retention has to become the focus: this is how we shore up our economic landscape.” Watch Kai explain here: youtube.com/watch?v=H_b7Bv…

“Research tells us again and again that educators are the most important aspect of making any classroom initiative successful, from raising math scores to deepening students’ sense of belonging. So we need to ask, what conditions are we providing for teachers?”

“My wish this #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that we find innovative solutions to the transportation solutions facing students and that every child has a safe and reliable way to get to school.”—Elizabeth Leung, kindergarten teacher, NM Watch: youtube.com/shorts/uEmKxNi…

“My wish for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that every teacher is nurtured, compensated, and trusted to teach and lead from their classroom.”—Marissa Tanner, 7th grade social studies teacher, IN Watch: youtube.com/shorts/ZLXvqZs…

This #TeacherAppreciationWeek, teachers in the Teach Plus network shared their wishes: fixing the literacy crisis, building a stronger recruitment pipeline, reimagining schools that work for every child, and more. Watch all 11 videos here: cm.teachplus.org/t/r-EF726D070B…

The changing workforce landscape will shape how schools should prepare students for the future, @TeachPlusIL Executive Director Josh Kaufmann co-writes. So Illinois must adopt a new approach for measuring students' postsecondary readiness. Read more: chicagotribune.com/2026/04/15/opi…

“My wish and hope for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that we never stop reimagining school until it is truly built for every student.”—Ashley Kannan, African American studies and U.S. history teacher, IL Watch: youtube.com/shorts/IZH_orK…

“My wish for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that every multilingual and dual language learner has equal access to high quality, evidence-based literacy instruction.”—Maria Zak, dual language teacher, MA Watch: youtube.com/shorts/2plnm_u…

Teachers aren’t just teaching. ✍️ They’re writing. ☝️ They’re advocating. 💪 They’re shaping the conversation. From AI to assessment, TX educators are helping drive what comes next. 🚀 #TeacherAppreciationWeek #TeachPlusTexas

There are ways for Mississippi to meet the needs of students who struggle with reading speed and need accommodations to show what they know on assessments. @TeachPlusMS teacher leader Georzetta Henderson-McDaniel shares some possible solutions: clarionledger.com/story/opinion/…

I had a great conversation with teacher Missy Carey from my district about the urgent need for stronger educator training in structured literacy. Through her work with students every day, she sees firsthand how critical early reading instruction is — and how much support teachers need to ensure every child can succeed. Organizations like Teach Plus are helping elevate educator voices and push for meaningful change in literacy instruction and teacher preparation. The data makes it clear why this matters: • 37% of 4th graders score Below Basic on NAEP reading assessments • Only 33% of Pennsylvania 4th graders are proficient readers — down from 40% in 2019 • Students who are not proficient readers by 3rd grade are far more likely to struggle academically and face increased risk of dropping out of high school • Research shows that 95% of students can learn to read with effective, evidence-based instruction Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader, and every educator deserves the training and tools to make that possible. Investing in structured literacy training is an investment in our students’ futures. #StructuredLiteracy #ScienceOfReading #Education #LiteracyMatters #TeachPlus #PennsylvaniaSchools

“My focus for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that a student’s future should never be determined by their geography but by their access to intentional and equitable career planning.”—Elizabeth Maxcey, high school special education teacher, MS Watch: youtube.com/shorts/_RPS1S9…

“My wish for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that we harness AI and assistive technology tools to fulfill the promise of inclusion of all learners.”—Heather Gauck, elementary special education teacher, MI Watch: youtube.com/shorts/4HxwxNX…

“My wish for #TeacherAppreciationWeek is that we commit to the science of reading and refuse to let literacy gaps follow our students into the upper grades.”—Ellen Gelman, high school literacy intervention teacher, CO Watch: youtube.com/shorts/RR9migX…