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November 28, 2006 Commission on Quality Teaching Recommends Reforms to Governor Riley Governor Riley listens as Dr. Betsy Rogers, chair of the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching, outlines the commission’s initial recommendations. MONTGOMERY – Governor Bob Riley today received initial recommendations made by a commission he appointed last year to develop reforms that will help the state recruit, retain and support high quality teachers. The Commission on Quality Teaching, a group of 72 education and business leaders led by Dr. Betsy Rogers, outlined action priorities for the Governor, the State Board of Education and the Alabama Legislature to undertake in order to increase student achievement through improved teacher effectiveness. Those steps involve improving the readiness of new teachers coming into the profession; promoting the continual learning and growth of teachers throughout their careers; and creating new opportunities for professional and financial advancement. In accepting the commission’s initial recommendations today, Governor Riley said he believes they can provide “the beginnings of a solid road map toward making further improvements in education in Alabama.” “Our ultimate goal is to guarantee that students in all schools have thoroughly prepared teachers in every subject, that they have teachers who are well-paid, supported with high quality professional development, and held accountable for results. These recommendations being presented today begin taking us in that direction,” Governor Riley said. Dr. Rogers, the commission’s chair, is a former National Teacher of the Year. She is currently the School Improvement Specialist at Brighton Middle School in Jefferson County. Fifty-seven of the commission’s 72 members are current or former classroom teachers. “To achieve true reform, we must try new and innovative programs and practices, and these recommendations are the first step in raising the bar for our profession to better meet the needs for all of Alabama’s children,” Dr. Rogers said. Governor Riley pointed to two programs – the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative – as examples of what the state can do to improve teaching quality. “Both programs have strong professional development components (for teachers),” he said. “Now we need to build on these initial successes and take the next steps to strengthen the teaching profession.”
Note: The initial report of the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching can be found online at
www.ti.state.al.us/qt/. A summary of its recommendations is below. Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching Initial Recommendations – Action Priorities The following items are proposed by the Commission for immediate action by the Governor’s Office, State Board of Education, the State Department of Education, and the Alabama Legislature: Alabama Statewide Mentoring Program The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching recommends the immediate implementation of a statewide mentoring program for every new Alabama teacher. The program will include a standard rubric developed by the State Department of Education in partnership with Local Education Agencies and colleges of education; required training and compensation for mentors, and guidelines for implementation. The Commission recommends that the Alabama Legislature fund the program at the amount determined by the Implementation Committee. Teacher Incentive Pay Pilot Programs The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching recommends the development of a partnership between the State Department of Education and a specified number of Local Education Agencies in developing pilot programs for teacher incentive pay, particularly in hard-to-staff districts. The Commission recommends that the Alabama Legislature fund the program at the amount determined by the Implementation Committee. Teacher Preparation and Recruitment Pilot Programs The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching recommends the development of a partnership between the State Department of Education and a specified number of Colleges of Education and Local Education Agencies in developing a pathway for recruitment, preparation, and retention of quality teacher candidates. Each pilot program will include a recruitment component in high schools, a redesign of preparation with a more clinical approach in partnering with local districts, and a follow-up component that informs the Colleges on the progress of their graduates. The Commission recommends that the Alabama Legislature fund the program at the amount determined by the Implementation Committee. Measuring and Monitoring Progress The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching recommends the identification of key indicators for the purpose of tracking progress toward the goal of providing every student with a highly effective teacher. The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching also recommends the integration of a research and evaluation component into each Quality Teaching strategy enacted. Data emerging from research and evaluation activities will be used to monitor and adjust recommended strategies toward attainment of stated goals. The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching will work with the State Board of Education/State Department of Education to determine the cost of completing the data infrastructure needed to accomplish progress monitoring and the cost of evaluating each recommendation. These costs should be included in requests to the Alabama Legislature for specific Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching action items. Alabama Quality Teaching Standards The Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching recommends the immediate adoption and statewide implementation of the Alabama Quality Teaching Standards (AQTS) by the State Board of Education. The AQTS provides a comprehensive underpinning for Alabama’s teaching profession. | |
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