Education Reform Coalition Releases Statement of Principles on Teacher Quality and Effectiveness as Key Elements in the Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act

Over 25 advocacy, business, civil rights, and think tank organizations have joined together to release a Statement of Principles on Teacher Quality and Effectiveness that we believe should be included in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The groups states that:

 “[A] top-notch public education system…requires a structure for identifying, nurturing, and rewarding greatness in classroom teaching and school leadership. Unfortunately, most existing state and local systems are not equipped to measure excellence. All too often, these systems accept mediocrity as the fullest extent of a teacher’s potential.”

“We believe strongly that when ESEA is reauthorized it must compel states to create and implement more specific and finely tuned measures directed at improving the quality and effectiveness of teachers and principals and ensuring the equitable distribution of effective teachers across all schools, including those with high proportions of low-income and minority students…”

“…Evaluations, once in place, shall be used by districts to tailor professional development and other supports for teachers and shall serve as the basis for human resources decisions, including hiring, staffing, licensure, tenure, compensation, teacher assignment patterns, and dismissal”