Changes for the structuring of teacher education are proposed in this paper. The professional status of teachers is emphasized, and the following aspects in teacher training are outlined: (1) In order to provide for professional autonomy and to give practicing teachers more control over their profession, states should establish professional practice boards for teachers made up of practicing teachers from elementary and secondary classrooms. These boards would set standards for teacher training and for entry into the profession; (2) Following undergraduate work, a rigorous graduate program in professional teacher training should be established. The content of such a program would include the technical knowledge base of the science and art of teaching as determined by the profession and teacher educators; (3) An integral part of the graduate professional training would be a paid internship program lasting at least one year with a partial or full teaching load under the guidance of a practicing teacher; (4) Upon entry into the profession, the teacher would be supported in the profession by a comprehensive network of practitioner-operated teacher centers. (JD)