In the face of yet another crisis in teaching, it's time for a bold and comprehensive plan to revitalize and better support the profession. Education expert Linda Darling-Hammond explains how the current shortage of teachers is not entirely new, but the result of decades of cutting programs, lack of respect for the profession and poor working…

Describes an English major's alternative route to second-language instruction in Texas schools. Alternative certification programs offer a more accessible route to teaching for a diverse population, including degreed graduates with content specialties, midcareer individuals eager for a change, and minority and male candidates largely…

Highlights from previous studies and results from surveys of teacher placement offices, secondary school administrators, and teachers all show a severe shortage of qualified secondary school science and mathematics teachers. (Author/MLF)

Describes several strategies used by one Arizona school district to recruit and retain more ethnically diverse teachers. (PKP)

Describes several models for fast-track alternative training programs for new and second-career teachers and principals, especially for teaching positions in disadvantaged urban schools. Teach for American program is highlighted. (PKP)

Proposes alternative explanation for teacher shortage. Data suggest that attrition among beginning teachers, largely due to poor working conditions, is the root cause of the teacher shortage. Discusses what schools can do to reduce new-teacher attrition. (Contains 14 references.) (PKP)

Describes disparity in teacher supply (shortages versus surpluses) among states, school districts, and teaching fields. Discusses reasons for these disparities and describes some successful and unsuccessful strategies and policy reforms to recruit more qualified teachers. (Contains 21 references.) (PKP)

Understanding the nature of science is even more important than mastering its details, says Alan Leshner, Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in an interview with Educational Leadership. In this article, Leshner discusses the controversy about teaching evolution, and he asserts that demands to…

Argues that conventional approaches to teacher training and certification deter interested and talented people from entering the teaching profession. Suggests combination of alternative certification programs and school-level accountability may help to increase the supply of quality teachers. (PKP)

Schools in the Houston (Texas) area use training and reward systems to attract and keep bilingual teachers. (Author)

John Goodlad believes the imminent teacher shortage could provide an opportunity for centers of pedagogy to prepare reading and math head teachers to work with teams of primary teachers. By democratizing school conditions, students could be educated for "civitas," or human goodness. Technology is no substitute for human infrastructure.…

Describes why school districts and universities should create professional-development school partnerships. Argues that besides increasing student and teacher learning, professional-development schools can improve education in schools and universities by reforming them both, taking on new roles and new work, reducing teacher-student ratios, and…