Catching up on your fall reading? Make sure you didn't miss NCTQ's two reports released this month. State of the States: Trends and Early Lessons on Teacher Evaluation and Effectiveness Policies offers a 50-state view of the major changes on the policy landscape with special focus on the 17 states with the most ambitious plans. The League of Education Voters called it "a primer where geeks and non-geeks alike can dig in."

Also out this month is our second Massachusetts district study on Springfield Public Schools, the state's second largest district. Principals have had limited say over staffing their buildings, evaluations were of little import, and tenure was granted nearly automatically. But district and union leaders' joint Springfield Collaboration for Change is a strong starting point from which to work to address these challenges, along with shifting state laws.