"This is a grave time. As we try our best to weather this storm, we find ourselves asking a lot of questions that produce answers no more reliable than what we might expect from a Ouija board. But if there is a silver lining to be had here—and we actually think there will ultimately be quite a few—Americans may gain a deeper appreciation for the critical function of government and, with it, an appreciation for our nation's schools...and teachers." - Kate Walsh, NCTQ President
The most recently updated data and analysis appear at the top of this list.
- Data: District and State COVID Teacher Policy Tracker SY20-21 (Last updated January 2021): A spreadsheet tracker of board policies and policies in formal negotiated agreements between teachers unions and school districts regarding: Health and Safety, Teacher Assignment, Instruction Requirements, Teacher Evaluation, and Teacher Leave Policies. The third tab of the tracker has state guidance and policies on teacher evaluation for SY20-21.
- Data & Analysis: Tracking district teacher policies in the COVID-19 environment (January 2021): As some districts either work to shore up their remote learning plans or begin to implement some version of in-person learning, we want to offer a review of how some of the largest school districts in the country have negotiated their reopening. We also look at some of these districts' more relevant teacher policies for the coronavirus environment.
- Data & Analysis: Evaluating teachers during the pandemic (November 2020): As part of NCTQ's ongoing research on COVID-19 related education policies, our latest installment tracks how states will proceed with evaluating teachers for the 2020-2021 school year. Of the 24 states that have released guidance thus far, 21 are still requiring summative evaluations for all teachers.
- Data & Analysis: Leave and health insurance for teachers: safeguards amid COVID-19 worries (October 2020): In this District Trendline, we examine the sick and personal leave policies, as well as some of the health insurance policies of 121 large districts across the nation: the 100 largest districts, plus the largest district in each state.
- Data & Analysis: Substitute teachers during the pandemic: requirements, benefits, and pay (September 2020): In this District Trendline, we examine the current requirements and other policies surrounding teacher substitutes for 124 large school districts across the country.
- Data & Analysis: Supporting teachers through mentoring and collaboration (July 2020): In this District Trendline, we examine teacher support systems—particularly new teacher induction, teacher collaboration, professional development, and mentoring—policies for 124 large school districts across the country.
- Data & Analysis: Teacher layoff criteria during a pandemic-driven recession (June 2020): In this District Trendline, we examine the layoff policies of 124 large school districts across the country.
- Analysis: With COVID-19, Student Teachers Can't Get All the Training They Need. So What If We Stopped Giving Them the Hardest Jobs? (June 2020): In an op-ed for The 74 Million, NCTQ President Kate Walsh raised the issue of how districts can ensure new teachers get the support and assignments they need to be successful in the fall.
- Data: District Policies on Emergency School Closures (Last updated May 2020)
- Data & Analysis: Update on districts' teacher policy responses to COVID-19 (May 2020): With an expanded sample of 74 large districts and updated data, a more comprehensive look at teacher policies, including evaluation, in response to the pandemic closures.
- Data & Analysis: AASPA Benefit Survey On COVID-19 From PK-12 HR (May 2020): A guest post from AASPA Executive Director Kelly Coash-Johnson explaining how PK-12 HR administrators were addressing pay and compensation, recruiting, and hiring during the pandemic.
- Data & Analysis: Teacher evaluations and support during COVID-19 closures (May 2020): Data, analysis, and examples of how 44 of large districts addressed teacher evaluation after the closure of physical schools.
- Data & Analysis: Student teaching and initial licensure in the times of coronavirus (April 2020): Data, analysis, examples, and specific recommendations on state policies regarding granting initial teaching licenses when traditional student teaching and taking licensure exams are made impossible due to the pandemic.
- Data & Analysis: How are school districts adapting teacher work policies for emergency closures? (April 2020): Data, analysis, and examples of preexisting teacher policies of 41 large districts relevant to emergency school closures and what teacher policies these districts adopted at the start of the pandemic.