Over the next decade, an estimated 2 million new teachers will need to be hired to accommodate record-high student enrollments, a high rate of projected teacher retirements, and local efforts to reduce class size. Meanwhile, schools are implementing comprehensive reform initiatives requiring teachers to focus on increasing student achievement.
Research has shown that all students benefit from having high-quality teachers. Yet, the more challenging student populations are disproportionately taught by less experienced educators. To meet the needs of today's students, teachers need to be qualified, diverse, and well prepared.
Teacher development programs must be designed to strengthen professional excellence in teaching techniques, academic knowledge, human understanding, critical thinking technology use, and parent, family, and community involvement.