San Antonio Union Elementary School District is a small district located in central California, just southeast of Big Sur. The district enrolls students in grades Prekindergarten through 8. Its student population is 49% White, 34% Hispanic, 7% Two or More Races, and 6% Black. Approximately 52% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch,…

This technical report provides information about the sample, survey instrument, and resultant data for the American Instructional Resources Surveys (AIRS) that were administered to principals and teachers in spring 2019 via RAND's American Educator Panels. The AIRS focused on instructional resources used and supported in English language arts,…

This paper makes a fundamentally simple line of empirically supported argumentation. The increasing demands for high level student learning can best be achieved by the use of the substantive research evidence of the past decade demonstrating that developmentally oriented instruction facilitates academic, behavioral, and social performance. Most…

Two papers examine the positive impact of professional development on student achievement. One discusses experiences in California which show that standards, assessment, and accountability are more likely to succeed when accompanied by extended opportunities for professional learning grounded in teachers' practice. The second explains that the…

California's colleges and universities must share responsibility for preparing teachers who are knowledgeable about what they teach and proficient in how and whom they teach. Teacher preparation programs must recruit and train highly qualified teachers and strategically address public school needs. Higher education leaders must promote better…

In a recent report, EdSource examines how Californians' concern for teacher quality has created new tensions. The desire for stronger accountability and better teacher evaluation standards can compete (when allocating time, attention, and money) with the need for higher quality professional development. Accountability and teacher skills are…

Reviews the history of research and policy developments that resulted in the adoption of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP). Since their adoption, the CSTP have become the cornerstone for teaching policy in California. The article focuses on issues, concerns, and dilemmas that shaped the standards in each of their…

This report discusses factors affecting California's ability to compete for and keep quality teachers. It describes the qualifications of California's current teacher workforce and how they are compensated and discusses research and informed opinions on the influence of money and other factors on teachers' employment decisions. The report…

This report describes the development of teacher certification in America, arguing that changes in and debates about teacher certification have revolved around four clusters of questions: who should control teacher licensing; the proper basis for making decisions about assuring teacher competence in individual cases; elements of teacher training…

This document presents standards for professional teaching practice in California. The standards were developed to facilitate the induction of beginning teachers into their professional roles and responsibilities. The standards are organized around six interrelated categories of teaching practice: Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning;…

A growing number of American students are nonnative English speakers. These students are vulnerable to early school exit and schools are facing more and more such students each year. Presently, about 56% of all public school teachers in the United States have at least one English language learner (ELL) student in their class, but less than 20% of…