Many of you are journalists who cover education issues on a full time basis. You are well acquainted with the often dismal status quo in the teaching ranks numbers, with large numbers of people being thrust in front of a classroom without proper certification. In Los Angeles, for example, three quarters of the new teachers hired last year lacked full certification. America has a teacher shortage born of low salaries and difficult working conditions. They lack the education, training, and clinical practice to be true professionals.
Research shows that quality teachers can have a huge impact on student achievement.
Today, virtually every state is raising academic standards and requiring students to pass high-stakes tests. But it is folly to raise the bar for student achievement unless we are also going to raise the bar for the preparation and training of teachers.