Public criticism of the quality of teaching in the schools has put pressure on teacher education programs to improve curriculum. The problem of quality instruction, however, may rest to a large extent with administrators who assign teachers inappropriately in the schools and with state education agencies that sanction the practice. One estimate is that more than 200,000 teachers in the United States are assigned to teach subjects and grade levels outside their areas of certification. This digest discusses why administrators misassign staff, the extent of misassignment, where misassignment occurs, results of misassignment, and who is responsible for misassignment. (Eight references are included.) (JD)