Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, which is being reviewed by Congress this year, is that states must provide every student with a highly qualified teacher in all core courses. Proposals on improving teacher quality could thus not be more timely. The purpose of this policy brief is to review the evidence showing the importance of teacher quality and then, drawing on articles published in the latest volume of The Future of Children and other recent proposals, to outline a plan that Congress could adopt to substantially improve teacher quality over the next decade and beyond. Our plan also emphasizes closing the gap in achievement between middle-class students and their poor and minority peers. Research Activities About Brookings The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions. For nearly 100 years, Brookings has analyzed current and emerging issues and produced new ideas that matter -- for the nation and the world. More >