State of the States 2024: Five Policy Actions to Strengthen Implementation of the Science of Reading

For states to succeed in their efforts to improve reading instruction, they must ensure teachers are prepared to implement and sustain scientifically based reading instruction.

New data and analysis show that while many states seek to improve literacy outcomes for students, they overlook a key component to implementation and sustainability: effective teachers.

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Highlights of our work

Training + Recruitment

State of the States 2023: Policies to Increase Teacher Diversity

State of the States 2023: Policies to Increase Teacher Diversity

August 2023

Despite robust research that shows that teachers of color increase positive academic, social-emotional, and behavioral outcomes for all students, particularly...

Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction

Teacher Prep Review: Strengthening Elementary Reading Instruction

June 2023

Giving teachers the knowledge and skills they need to teach reading effectively is fundamental for improving life outcomes for all...

Teacher Prep Review: Preparation in Elementary Mathematics

Teacher Prep Review: Preparation in Elementary Mathematics

May 2022

Improving instruction in elementary mathematics is critical to supporting better academic and life outcomes for our students. While weak elementary...

Staffing

Seven strategies school districts are using to increase teacher diversity

Seven strategies school districts are using to increase teacher diversity

March 2023

Several school district leaders shared how they've accomplished recent gains in building a more diverse teacher workforce.

Do States Have the Data they Need to Answer Important Questions about their Teacher Workforce?

Do States Have the Data they Need to Answer Important Questions about their Teacher Workforce?

December 2022

Given both the importance—and dearth—of nuanced, local data on teacher supply and demand, NCTQ set out to understand the key...

Ensuring Students' Equitable Access to Qualified and Effective Teachers

Ensuring Students' Equitable Access to Qualified and Effective Teachers

April 2022

How states have responded to a 2015 federal law that they collect and report on the equitable distribution of teacher...

Evaluation + Support

State of the States 2022: Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policies

State of the States 2022: Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policies

November 2022

Results of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress reveal alarming results: Since 2019, scores declined substantially for all students,...

If you want to help new teachers improve, invest in great coaches

If you want to help new teachers improve, invest in great coaches

April 2022

People have life coaches, nutrition coaches, and executive coaches. So, it's no surprise to see schools turning to coaches as...

Seven ways to make improving teacher evaluation worth the work

Seven ways to make improving teacher evaluation worth the work

February 2022

A look at how using evidence-based practices can help ensure that teacher evaluation systems produce positive outcomes.

Compensation

Teacher salaries, cost of rent, and home prices: Can teachers afford to live where they teach?

Teacher salaries, cost of rent, and home prices: Can teachers afford to live where they teach?

May 2023

Lack of affordable housing exacerbates the teacher staffing challenges that many school districts face.

State of the States 2022: Teacher Compensation Strategies

State of the States 2022: Teacher Compensation Strategies

September 2022

Salaries are one of the most powerful policy levers states and school districts can use to attract qualified, effective, and...

Are teacher salaries keeping up with inflation?

Are teacher salaries keeping up with inflation?

March 2022

An in-depth look at whether teacher salary increases have kept pace with rising consumer prices.