A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Next Steps for Business Leaders

What can be done at the local level to address these complex teacher quality issues? The following questions are designed to challenge business leaders to think about how they might begin. These questions are intended to be thought-provoking and do not have easy answers. They may, however, encourage people to extend themselves beyond their traditional roles and to take action.

• Do we spend time in teachers' classrooms, sharing our business and personal expertise and gaining an understanding of teaching and schools?
• Do we have training sessions to which it might be appropriate to invite teachers and principals to attend with our employees at our business site?
• Do we host at our business site and help to fund on-going professional development opportunities for teachers and principals?
• Do we provide summer "externships" through which teachers can learn how to help their students make connections between what they are learning and its value in their lives beyond school?
• Do we support or initiate educator recognition programs in our community to publicize good teaching?
• Are we advocates for high-quality, sustained professional development for all teachers and administrators, extra support for beginning teachers, increased teacher salaries, and strong standards for entering the profession?
• Do we insist that communities be provided information on their teachers' qualifications in order to raise awareness about the importance of hiring qualified teachers?

[Next Steps for School Administrators]

[Next Steps for State and Local Policymakers]