A great report issued last month by the ever-sensible Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) points to the states' piecemeal and under-funded approach to improving teacher quality as the reason that the problem is so immune to reform.

Concentrating on five areas (teachers’ content preparation, connected data systems, licensure reform, mentorships and incentive pay), SREB calls for states to approach these areas collectively. New programs need to be carefully woven into the structure of one system, so that states aren’t just trying to provide a quick fix for each problem that crops up.

The report offers some great checklists for states: Can they track recent graduates in their teaching positions? Are they anticipating demand for new teachers each year? Are salaries tied to student achievement? Although the report concentrates on southern states, any state policymaker will find it a helpful tool for reviewing current policies.