"We want to provide teachers with strategies that are proven to work. And teachers want to hear from other teachers who are getting real results in the classroom. That's why professional development through e-Learning is such an important part of the No Child Left Behind Act."
— U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings

As part of its popular Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, the U.S. Department of Education launched the groundbreaking e-Learning professional development Web site.

• Teachers receive free training focused on content knowledge and instructional skills.
• Thirty-two digital workshops are currently available on a wide variety of topics, including elementary-level reading, vocabulary, reading in content areas, algebra, turning data into information, and differentiated instruction.
• The Department's Web site has a searchable database of over 1,500 free teaching resources and lesson plans.
• To date, the e-Learning site has logged more than 300,000 visits.

e-Learning and the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative allow educators from schools in all settings—urban, suburban, rural—to work with and learn from the nation's best teachers.

• Research shows a good teacher is one the most important factors in raising student achievement.
• The initiative keeps educators informed of new policies and best practices vital to their craft.
• Workshops and the Teacher-to-Teacher Training Corps enable teachers not only to participate but also to lead.

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative was developed by teachers for teachers in recognition of their importance to academic success.

• e-Learning courses may be used to help teachers become highly qualified, as required by No Child Left Behind.
• All 50 states and the District of Columbia accept Teacher-to-Teacher credits towards certification or attainment of highly qualified teacher status.

President Bush wants to attract excellent teachers to serve in the most challenging schools and neighborhoods.

• The president and the Congress recently created an almost $100 million Teacher Incentive Fund (FY 2006) to encourage teachers getting results to take on the toughest assignments in high-need schools through grants to states, districts and partnerships. The Department started to accept applications for the new Teacher Incentive Fund yesterday, and will award almost $95 million in grants on a competitive basis for a project period of up to 5 years. The remaining funds, just under $5 million, will be used for technical assistance, training, peer review of applications, program outreach, and evaluation activities. Grants will be awarded in October 2006.
• The president is seeking to make permanent the Teacher Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives up to $17,500 in college loans for math, science and special education teachers serving high-need schools.

Why e-Learning?

• Access: e-Learning is available for FREE on the Internet.
• Convenience: e-Learning can take place anytime and any place there is Internet access.
• Choice: e-Learning increases professional development opportunities for teachers.
• Simplicity: visit the Web site to enroll, complete the course, take an assessment, perform the follow-up activities, then incorporate what you learn into the classroom. The program even includes a principal's checklist to assist teachers.

For more information on the Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative and to sign up for email updates from the Department, please visit www.ed.gov/teacherinitiative.