美國高質(zhì)量教師計劃文件(英文)

AQualityTeacherinEveryClassroomImprovingTeacherQualityandEnhancingtheProfessionContents:Background2ExecutiveSummary4ImprovingTeacherQualityandEnhancingtheTeachingProfessionTeacherandPrincipalTrainingandRecruitmentFund6InnovativeandAlternativeRoutestoLicensure:TroopstoTeachers8TransitiontoTeaching9TeachforAmerica10TeacherQualityinHighPovertySchools11The“WhatWorksClearinghouse”12TeacherLiabilityProtection13TeacherTaxDeduction14ExpandedLoanForgiveness15NewFundingFlexibility16ToolsforTeachersinSpecificAreasofInstructionEarlyChildhoodProfessionalDevelopment17EarlyReadingInitiatives:EarlyReadingFirst18ReadingFirst19TeachingEnglishLanguageLearners20SpecialEducationInitiatives:TrainingforTeachersServingStudentswithDisabilities21StateImprovementGrantsforStudentswithDisabilities22MathandSciencePartnerships23EnhancingEducationthroughTechnology24TeachingTraditionalAmericanHistory25TheNeedtoImproveTeacherQualityandEnhancetheTeachingProfessionRecentstudiesoffercompellingevidencethatconfirmswhatparentshavealwaysknown–thequalityofateacherisoneofthemostcriticalcomponentsofhowwellstudentsachieve.StudiesinbothTennesseeandTexasfoundthatstudentswhohadeffectiveteachersgreatlyoutperformedthosewhohadineffectiveteachers.Forexample,intheTennesseestudy,studentswithhighlyeffectiveteachersforthreeyearsinarowscored50percentagepointshigheronatestofmathskillsthanthosewhoseteacherswereineffective.TheChallengeofImprovingTeacherQualityTeacherPreparation:Manynewteachersdonotfeelreadyforthechallengesoftoday’sclassrooms.Fewerthan36percentfeel“verywellprepared”toimplementcurriculumandperformancestandards,andlessthan20percentfeelpreparedtomeettheneedsofdiversestudentsorthosewithlimitedEnglishproficiency.TeacherRetention:Newteachersareoftenleftto“sinkorswim,”notreceivingthenurturingandsupporttheyneed.Notsurprisingly,about22percentofnewpublicschoolteachersleavetheprofessionintheirfirstthreeyears.MasteryofContent:Teachersin35Statesarerequiredtopassatestofsubjectareaknowledge.Oftenthepassingscoresaresetsolowthatacandidatecanpassthetestbygettingfewerthanhalfofthetestitemscorrect.Lowexpectationssuchasthesedonotaddresstherealitiesofhigheracademicstandards.Researchhasdemonstratedaclearconnectionbetweenateacher’ssubjectmatterpreparationandstudentacademicachievement.Teacherswithstrongpreparationinthesubjectmattertheyteachhavetheknowledgeandabilitytohelptheirstudentsmeetthechallengesofnewandmorerigorousstandards.TeacherRecruitment:Overthenextdecade,schooldistrictswillneedtohire2.2millionadditionalteachers.ButStatesandschooldistrictsfacethechallengeofattractingagreaterquantityofpeopletotheteachingprofessionwhilealsoincreasingteacherquality.WhileStatesandeducationalorganizationshavebeguntopursuedifferentwaystorecruithighqualityindividualsintothefieldofteaching,morehelpisneeded.StartingEarly.Researchhasshowntheimportanceofchildrenacquiringpre-readingandnumeracyskillsearlyoninlife.Themorepreparedchildrenarewhentheyenterschool,themorelikelytheywillbeabletoreadandperformongradelevelbytheendofthethirdgrade.Teachersneedspecifictrainingtoenablethemtosuccessfullyteachyounglearners.TheNeedtoEnhancetheTeachingProfessionAsweexpectmoreandmoreofteachers,wehaveanobligationtoensurethattheyaretreatedlikethededicatedprofessionalstheyare.Unfortunately,fewerthan20percentofpublicschoolteachersreportthattheyare“verysatisfied”withthelevelofesteemsocietyaccordsthem.Teachersalsoreportthattheyhaveproblemsmaintainingorderintheclassroomandfacethethreatofbeingsuedwhentheyenforcereasonablestandardsofdiscipline.Additionally,lowpayandtheburdenofstudentloansandotherexpensesrelatedtoteachingcancontributetoteachersfeelingdissatisfiedwiththeirworkenvironment.TheNoChildLeftBehindActandTeachersEverychilddeserveshighlyqualifiedteachers.TheNoChildLeftBehindActrequiresStatestohaveahighlyqualifiedteacherineverypublicschoolclassroombytheendofthe2005-2006schoolyear.Forexample,allnewteacherswillhavetobelicensedorcertifiedbytheState,holdatleastabachelor’sdegree,andpassarigorousStatetestonsubjectknowledgeandteachingskills.Existingteacherswillalsohavetomeetsimilarcriteria.Reachingthisgoalwillrequirereformoftraditionalteachertraining,whichisusuallyconductedincollegesofeducation,aswellasthroughtheinnovativeexpansionofalternativeroutestoteacherlicensure.Itwillalsorequiremoreeffectivein-servicetrainingandprofessionaldevelopmentforteacherscurrentlyintheclassroom.ThehistoricNoChildLeftBehindAct,signedintolawbyPresidentBushinJanuary2002,providesavarietyofnewtoolstoenabletheFederalGovernment,States,andlocaldistrictstoimproveteacherqualityandelevatetheteachingprofession.TheseneededreformsarebackedupwithhistoriclevelsoffundingforteacherqualityinitiativesinPresidentBush’sFY-03budget.ThesereformsarethefoundationoftheBushAdministration’sagendatoimproveteacherqualityandenhancetheteachingprofession.ExecutiveSummaryTheBushAdministrationAgendaforaQualityTeacherinEveryClassroomBackgroundEverychildinAmericadeservesaqualityteacher.Inaneraofincreasingstandardsandaccountabilityineducation,teacherqualityandteachertrainingwillbemoreimportantthanever.PresidentBushknowsthechallengesfacingtoday’steachers.Foryears,FederalprogramshavepromisedtostrengthenStateandlocalteacherqualityefforts–butwithfewresults.ThroughtheNoChildLeftBehindActandinhisbudgetproposals,PresidentBushproposestoaddressthesechallengesofteacherqualityandteachertrainingintwomajorwaysbyproviding:(1)assistancetoStatesastheystrivetoimproveteacherquality;(2)specificstepstoenhancetheteachingprofessionandworkenvironment;and(3)newtoolsforteachersinspecificareasofinstruction.SomekeyelementsofthePresident’steacherqualityagendainclude:(1)ImprovingTeacherQualityTeachersandPrincipalTrainingandRecruitmentFund:PresidentBushproposestospendarecord-level$2.85billioningrantstoStatestoimprovethequalityofteachersandprincipals.UndertheNoChildLeftBehindAct,thesefundswillbeusedtoincreasethenumberofhighlyqualifiedteachersandprincipals,andtoholdschooldistrictsaccountableforshowingprogress.QualifiedTeachersforDisadvantagedStudents:UndertheNoChildLeftBehindAct,localschoolswillberequiredtouseaportionoftheirFederalTitleIdollarstoimproveteacherquality.Theseteachersmustbehighlyqualified,andparentswillbeabletoreceiveinformationaboutthequalificationsoftheirchildren’steachers.PresidentBushproposesa$1billionincreaseinTitleIfundingforFY-03.RecordSupportforInnovativeTeacherRecruitment:PresidentBushproposesrecordlevelsupportforprogramsthatprovideinnovativewaystorecruitnewteachersintotheteachingprofession,includingtheTroopstoTeachersprogram($20million),TransitiontoTeachingProgram($39.4million),andTeachforAmerica($2.6million).(2)EnhancingtheTeachingProfessionandWorkEnvironmentTeacherProtectionAct:ThePresidentsupportsimplementationoftheTeacherProtectionActtoensurethatteachers,principals,andotherschoolofficialsareabletotakereasonablestepstomaintainorderanddisciplineintheclassroomwithoutthefearofunnecessarylitigation.TeacherTaxDeduction:Teachersoftenpayforclassroomsuppliesandsupplementalmaterialsoutoftheirownpockets.Tohelpteachersdefraythesecosts,PresidentBushproposesaTeacherTaxDeductiononupto$400ofqualifiededucationexpenses.Thistaxdeductionwillprovide$577millionintaxrelieftoteachersoverthenextfiveyears.ExpandedLoanForgiveness:TeacherswhoreceivecertainFederaleducationloanstopayforcollegeandhavetaughtinalow-incomeschoolforfiveconsecutiveyearsareeligibleforupto$5,000instudentloanforgiveness,undercurrentlaw.PresidentBushproposestoincreasethestudentloanforgivenessceilingto$17,500,whichwillprovide,overthenextfiveyears,$112millioninreliefforteacherswhoserveinlow-incomeschools.FlexibilityforStatesandDistricts:Statesanddistrictsrecognizethatinordertoattractteacherstotheprofessionandkeepgoodteachersintheclassroom,theyneedtooffercompetitivesalaries.UndertheNoChildLeftBehindAct,StatesanddistrictsareabletouseaportionofthefundsthattheyreceiveundercertainFederalprogramstomeettheiruniqueneeds,includingincreasingteacherpay,reducingclasssize,andbolsteringprofessionaldevelopmentandtrainingforteachers.(3)ToolsforTeachersinSpecificAreasofInstructionSupportforEarlyChildhoodEducators:PresidentBush’sbudgetforFY-03providesrecordfundinglevelsfortheEarlyChildhoodEducatorProfessionalDevelopmentProgram,whichallowspreschooleducatorsandcaregivers–particularlyinlow-incomeareas–toreceivethetrainingandprofessionaldevelopmenttheyneedtoprovideaqualityeducationforthechildrentheyserve.EarlyReadingFirst:ThePresident’sEarlyReadingFirstinitiativewillhelptoprepareyoungchildrentoenterkindergartenwiththenecessarylanguage,cognitive,andearlyreadingskillstheyneedtobesuccessfulreaders.ThePresident’sbudgetfullyfundsthisinitiativeat$75million,andthesefundswillbeavailabletogivepreschoolteachersthetrainingandresourcestheyneedtoprovidehigh-qualityearlyeducationfortheyoungestAmericans.ReadingFirst:ThePresident’snewReadingFirstinitiativeisaimedathelpingeverystudentbecomeasuccessfulreaderbytheendofthirdgrade.ThePresident’sbudgetproposesalmost12percentincreaseinReadingFirstforFY-03–bringingoverallfundingto$1billion.Upto20percentofthesefundsareavailabletoStates,andasignificantportionofthefundsareavailabletosupportprofessionaldevelopmenttohelpteacherslearnresearch-basedreadinginstructiontechniques.TeachingEnglishLanguageLearners:TheProfessionalDevelopmentprogramforlanguageacquisitionprovidesdiscretionarygrantstocollegesanduniversitiesthatworkwithStateeducationdepartmentstoimproveclassroominstructionforstudentswhodonotspeakEnglishasanativelanguageorarelimitedEnglishproficient.PresidentBushsupportsmaintainingfundingat$37.5milliontohelpteachersbetterservethesestudentsandtheircommunities.BetterTrainingforTeachersofDisabledStudents:PresidentBushsupportscontinuedrecord-levelfundingfortheStateImprovementGrantprogram($51.7million)andforthePersonnelProgram($90million),whichhelpteachersofchildrenwithdisabilitiestoreceivethetrainingandprofessionaldevelopmenttheyneedtobetterservetheirstudents.Preparing,TrainingandRecruitingHighQualityTeachersandPrincipals1PurposeoftheProgramThisprogramrepresentsthelargestandmostcomprehensiveFederalinvestmentinpreparing,trainingandrecruitingteachersandprincipals.Nearly$3billionwillbemadeavailabletoStatesthroughformulagrantstoprepare,train,andrecruithigh-qualityteachers.Thisprogramhasthreegoals:(1)toincreasestudentacademicachievementthroughtheuseofstrategiesbasedonscientifically-basedresearchinwhatworkstoimproveteacherandprincipalquality;(2)toincreasethenumberofhighlyqualifiedteachersandprincipals;and(3)toholdeducationalagenciesandschoolsaccountableforimprovementsinteacherqualityandstudentacademicachievement.NewProgramImprovementsandResourcesTheNoChildLeftBehindActthatPresidentBushsignedintolawconsolidatesseveralsmallerFederalprogramsintoonecomprehensivegrantprogramforStates,givingthemflexibilitytomeettheirteachertraining,recruiting,andretentionneeds.Thischangewillhelptoimprovechildren’seducationbyassistingStatesanddistrictstoensurethateveryclassroomisledbyahighlyqualifiedteacher.Lastyear,PresidentBushsignedlegislationthatappropriatedforthisprogramatotalof$2.85billiontoStates,localeducationalagencies,andpartnershipsfor2002.Thisamountrepresentsa35percentincreaseinteacherqualityfunds,ascomparedwith2001.PresidentBush’sFY-03budgetproposessustainingthiscommitment.HighlightsStateapplicationswilldescribehowtheproposalsarebaseduponresearchandhowtheactivitiesareexpectedtoincreasestudentachievement,aswellashowtheproposalsarealignedwithStatecontentstandardsandassessments.Stateswillbeabletousetheirfundsinavarietyofwaystobestmeettheirspecificteacherneeds.Fundscanbeusedforsuchactivitiesas:Reformingteacherandprincipalcertificationandre-certificationand/orpromotingreciprocityagreements,whichareagreementsbetweenStatesthatallowteacherscertifiedinoneStatetoworkinanotherState.NotallStatescurrentlyhavereciprocityagreements.Providingavarietyofsupport,suchastraining,toneworcurrentteachersorprincipals.Establishing,expanding,orimprovingprogramsforalternativeroutestolicensure.Developingeffectiverecruitmentandretentionstrategies,and/orestablishingaclearinghouseforrecruitmentandplacement.Reformingtenurelawsand/orimplementingteachertesting.Providinghighqualityprofessionaldevelopmentforbothteachersandprincipals.SupportingactivitiestiedtoStatestandardsthatimproveinstructionalpracticesandimprovestudentachievement.Developingsystemstomeasuretheeffectivenessofspecifictypesofprofessionaldevelopmentintermsofenhancedstudentachievementand/orincreasedteachersubjectmastery.ElementaryandSecondaryEducationActasamendedbyNoChildLeftBehind:TitleII,PartA

Assistinglocaleducationalagenciesintheuseofcost-effective,research-basedprofessionaldevelopmentopportunities,and/orprovidingtechnicalassistance.Providingtrainingintheefficientuseoftechnologytoinstruct,tousestudentdataanalysistoinformeducationaldecisionmaking,toimproveschoolsandschoolaccountability.Developingperformance-paysystemsthatprovidedifferentialandbonuspayforteachersinhigh-needsubjectareasorinhigh-povertyschoolsordistricts.Developinginitiativesthatallowteacherstoreceiveadditionalpayforteachingsubjectmatterareasthatareexperiencingteachershortages.Developinginitiativesthatprovideteacherswithchoicesintheircareerpaths,suchasbecomingamentorfornewteachers,andthenmovinguptobeingasupervisorofallmentors;orbecomingaproviderofspecificprofessionaldevelopmentactivities,andthengraduatingtotrainingotherstodothesame.Providingassistancetoteacherssothattheycanmeetnewlicensurerequirements.Encouragingmentobecomeelementaryteachers.InnovativeandAlternativeRoutestoLicensure:TroopstoTeachersProgram2PurposeoftheProgramTheTroopstoTeachersprogramseekstoensurethatindividualswhodesiretoentertheteachingprofessionhaveaccesstohighqualitytrainingthatwillpreparethemtobecomehighlyqualifiedteachers.TheTroopstoTeachersprogramhasthefollowingtwocomponents:(1)ithelpsplaceeligiblemembersoftheArmedServicesinteachertrainingprogramsdesignedbytheStates,and(2)itencouragesStatesorpartnershipstodevelopandimplementinnovativeteachercertification/licensureprogramsformembersoftheArmedServices.NewProgramImprovementsandResourcesTheNoChildLeftBehindActreauthorizestheTroopstoTeachersprogram,whichimproveschildren'seducationbyincreasingthenumberofhigh-qualityprofessionalsintheclassroom.Lastyear,PresidentBushsignedlegislationthatincreasedfundingforthisprogramfive-foldfrom$3millionin2001to$18millionin2002.Thisyear,PresidentBushhasproposedfurtherincreasingfundingforTroopstoTeachersto$20millioninFY-03.HighlightsforIndividualsMembersoftheArmedServiceswhoholdabachelor’soradvanceddegreefromanaccreditedinstitutionofhighereducationandmeetafewbasicrequirementsareeligibletoparticipateinTroopstoTeachers.Prioritywillbegiventomemberswhohaveexperienceinscience,math,specialeducation,orvocational/technicalsubjects.Participantscanreceiveastipendofupto$5,000fortrainingorabonusofupto$10,000,iftheyagreetoobtaintheirteacherlicenseandteachforatleastthreeyearsinaschoolthat:(1)hasastudentpopulationwhereatleast50percentofthechildrencomefromlow-incomefamilies;or(2)hasalargepercentageofchildrenwithdisabilities.ElementaryandSecondaryEducationActasamendedbyNoChildLeftBehind:TitleII,PartC,Subpart1

InnovativeandAlternativeRoutestoLicensure:TransitiontoTeachingProgram3PurposeoftheProgramTheTransitiontoTeachingprogramseekstoensurethatindividualswhodesiretoentertheteachingprofessionhaveaccesstoqualitytrainingthatwillpreparethemtobecomehighlyqualifiedteachers.Thisprogramhastwocomponents:(1)ithelpsplacecareerprofessionalsandrecentcollegegraduatesinteachertrainingprogramsdesignedbytheStates;and(2)itencouragesStatesinthedevelopmentandexpansionofalternativeroutestoteacherlicensureandcertification.NewProgramImprovementsandResourcesTheNoChildLeftBehindActreauthorizestheTransitiontoTeachingprogram,whichimproveschildren'seducationbyincreasingthenumberofhigh-qualityprofessionalsintheclassroom.Lastyear,PresidentBushsignedlegislationthatincreasedfundingto$35millionin2002,anincreaseof12percentfromthepreviousyear.Thisyear,PresidentBushhasproposedfurtherincreasingtheprogramto$39.4millioninFY-03,anincreaseof13percent.HighlightsforIndividualsAnindividualwithrelevantcareerexperienceorarecentcollegegraduateiseligibletoparticipateinthisprogram.Participantscanreceivescholarships,stipends,orbonusesofupto$5,000forparticipatinginactivitiesthathavebeenproveneffectiveatretainingteachersinhigh-needschools.HighlightsforStatesandPartnershipsProgramswillestablish,expand,orenhanceteacherrecruitmentandretentionprogramfocusedoncareerprofessionalsandrecentcollegegraduates.Programscanprovidementoringfornewteachersandprofessionaldevelopmentforteacherscurrentlyintheclassroom.ProgramscanincludethedevelopmentofaStatewideorregionalclearinghousefortherecruitmentandplacementofteachers.ElementaryandSecondaryEducationActasamendedbyNoChildLeftBehind:TitleII,PartC,Subpart1

InnovativeandAlternativeRoutestoLicensure:TeachforAmerica4PurposeoftheProgramTeachforAmericaisanationalcorpsofrecentcollegegraduateswhocommittwoyearstoteachinpublicschools.TeachforAmericaisapublic/privatepartnershipstartedin1990thatrecruitsandselectsmembers,securesplacementfortheminschooldistricts,providespre-serviceandin-servicetraining,andprovidesasupportnetworkformembersduringandafterservice.Teachersarepaidbytheschooldistrictsinwhichtheyteach.Costsforrecruitment,placement,andtrainingarepaidbyregionalcorporations,foundations,localgovernments,andnationalcorporationsandfoundations.TeachforAmericareceivessomeFederalassistancethroughtheAmeriCorpsprogram.Inaddition,allteachersinthisprogramareeligibleforanAmeriCorpseducationawardworthupto$4,725,availableoveraseven-yearperiod,topayforhighereducationortopaystudentloans.NewProgramImprovementsandResourcesPresidentBushsupportstheTeachforAmericaprogram,whichreceivesFederalfundingthroughtheCorporationforNationalandCommunityService(CNCS)AmeriCorpsprogram.Lastyear,PresidentBushsignedlegislationthatprovided$2.6milliontoTeachforAmericaforadministrativecostsandtraining.Thisyear,PresidentBushhasproposedtomaintainthatcommitmentin2003andestablishanadditional$10millioninchallengegrantsthroughCNCStosupportexpansionofteachingandothernationalserviceprogramsunderAmeriCorps.HighlightsOverthelastdecade,TeachforAmericahasplacedmorethan7,000teachersinschooldistrictsthathavehaddifficultyinrecruitingstaff.Today,approximately1,700TeachforAmericaparticipantsteachin17regionsacrossthecountry,includingNewYorkCity,Washington,D.C.,Chicago,Houston,LosAngeles,andAtlanta.TeachforAmericahasanaggressiveexpansionplanthatisintendedtomorethandoublethenumberofmembersby2005.Independentstudiesrevealhighlevelsofsatisfactionwiththeprogram:97percentofprincipalsrespondtheywouldhirecorpsmembersagainand80percentofprincipalsindicatetheyaremoreeffectivethanotherbeginningteachers.Alumniremaininvolvedineducation:60percentareworkingfull-timeineducation,eitherasteachers,administrators,orinotherpositions.Ofthoseworkingoutsideofeducation,70percentsaysomeaspectoftheirjobrelatesdirectlytoeducation.CorporationforNationalandCommunityService-FiscalYear2003BudgetEstimateandPerformancePlan,p.49.

TeacherQualityinHigh-PovertySchools5PurposeoftheProgramSchoolsandschooldistrictswithhighpercentagesoflow-incomestudentsreceiveFederalassistancethroughTitleI,PartA,formulagrantfunds.ThefundsareusedtoimprovestudentperformancesothatstudentswillmeetStateacademicstandards.TheprogramincludesseveralprovisionsdesignedtoimprovethequalityofteachersineveryschoolthatreceivesTitleIfunds.ForexampleschooldistrictsmustspendatleastfivepercentoftheirTitleI,PartAfundstoensurethatteachersbecomehighlyqualifiednolaterthantheendofthe2005-2006schoolyear.TitleIschoolsidentifiedasneedingimprovementmustspendatleast10percentoftheirTitleIfundsforhigh-qualityprofessionaldevelopment.NewProgramImprovementsandResourcesTheNoChildLeftBehindActthatPresidentBushsignedreauthorizestheTitleIprogram,whichwillhelptoimprovechildren'seducationbyholdingschoolsaccountableforimprovingachievementofdisadvantagedstudents,whileaportionofthesefundsbefocusedontheimprovementofteacherquality.Lastyear,PresidentBushsignedlegislationthatincreasedfundingto$10.35billioninFY-02,anincreaseofmorethan18percentfromFY-01levels.Thisyear,PresidentBushhasproposedfurtherincreasingtheprogramby$1billiondollars.HighlightsforStates:AStatemustsubmitaplanthatoutlinesthestepsitwilltaketoensurethat:SchoolsreceivingTitleIfundsprovideinstructionbyhighlyqualifiedinstructionalstaff;Poorandminoritychildrenarenottaughtbyinexperienced,unqualified,orout-of-fieldteachersathigherratesthanotherstudents;ParentsandthepublicreceiveStatewidereportcardsthatincludesthepercentageofteachersteachingwithemergencyorprovisionalcredentials,aswellasthepercentageofclassesnottaughtbyhighlyqualifiedteachers.HighlightsforSchoolsandSchoolDistricts:SchooldistrictsthatreceiveTitleIfundsmustensurethat:AllteachershiredafterJanuary8,2002inprogramssupportedbyTitleIfundsarehighlyqualifiedandallparaprofessionalshavecompletedtwoyearsofcollege,receivedanassociate’sdegree,ormethighstandardsofacademiccompetenceasdemonstratedthrougharigorousStateassessment.Parentsarenotifiedthattheycanreceiveinformationabouttheprofessionalqualificationsoftheirchild’steachers.SchooldistrictsdevelopplansthatdescribehowtheywillcoordinateFederalfundstoprovideprofessionaldevelopmenttoteachers,principals,andotherstaffmembersatTitleIschools.ElementaryandSecondaryEducationActasamendedbyNoChildLeftBehind:TitleI,PartA

The“WhatWorks”Clearinghouse6PurposeoftheInitiativeThepurposeoftheClearinghouse,anewinitiativeattheDepartmentofEducation,istoprovideeducatorsandpolicymakerswithaneasilyaccessibleweb-baseddatabaseofinformationonwhatworksineducatingstudents.TheClearinghousewouldevaluatetheeffectivenessofeducationalproducts,practices,andprogramsthatareintendedtoenhancestudentresults.HighlightsEducatorswillbeabletoaccessinformationoneffectivecurriculaproducts,educationalsoftware,andprofessionaltrainingmodulesaddressingavarietyofimportanttopics,includingsubjectmatterinstruction,dropoutprevention,andcharacterdevelopment.Programswillbeevaluatedthroughresearchthatadherestorigorousscientificstandardsandcriteria.Educatorswillalsobeabletoseethemagnitudeofeffectsoftheinterventionsevaluated.TheClearinghousewilllinkeducatorswithrelevantmanuals,instructions,trainingmaterials,andotherresourcesneededtoadopttheproductsandprogramsevaluatedintheClearinghouse.OfficeofEducationalResearchandImprovement

TeacherLiabilityProtection7PurposeoftheProgramTheTeacherProtectionActensuresthatteachers,principals,andotherschoolprofessionalscanundertakereasonableactionstomaintainorderanddisciplineintheclassroomwithoutthefearoflitigation.ItprovidescivilimmunityinanyStatecourttoteachers,instructors,principals,administrators,andothereducationprofessionalsforactionstakentomaintaindiscipline,orderorcontrolintheschoolorclassroom.HighlightsImportantcomponentsofthisactincludethefollowing:TeachersareshieldedfromliabilitywhentheyactwithinthescopeoftheiremploymentandinaccordancewithapplicableFederal,State,andlocallaws(includingcivilrightslaws).Protectionsareextendednotonlytoteachers,butalsotoadministratorsandschoolprofessionals,nonprofessionalemployeesresponsibleformaintainingdisciplineorsafety,andindividualschoolboardmembers.Liabilityislimited,unlessaStatespecificall