Archived - SEC. 2301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

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

``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that-- ``(1) underlying the standards-driven framework of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and the high academic standards for eligible students under title I is a widespread need to prepare teachers to teach to higher standards; ``(2) prospective and current teachers need knowledge and skills beyond what such teachers currently possess; ``(3) while both the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and titles I and II of this Act have extensive references to professional development of teachers, there are no provisions to incorporate `on-the-ground' planning and implementation to serve as models for local educational agencies across the Nation; and ``(4) better prepared teachers can lead to improved student achievement, especially for students who are furthest from reaching high standards.
``(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part-- ``(1) to address the need for professional development with a primary focus on teachers; ``(2) to provide both prospective teachers and current teachers opportunities to learn both the content and the pedagogy needed to teach to high standards; and ``(3) to build models, in a few cities and States, that demonstrate new organizational arrangements and deep investments in teachers necessary to better prepare teachers for new standards and assessments.

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