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Nebraska Literacy Project aims to boost learning, test scores with ‘the science of reading’

Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska's education department aims to boost third-grade reading proficiency from 62% to 75% by 2030 through its new literacy initiative, which will require teacher prep programs to teach evidence-based methods. This effort addresses a critical need, as NCTQ rated Nebraska "weak" in policies to support the implementation of the science of reading.

August 17, 2024

Schools are bracing for widespread teacher layoffs. Here’s why

CNN

With pandemic funds expiring, many districts face painful teacher layoffs that will hit disadvantaged students hardest. NCTQ President Heather Peske warns "students of color and students in higher-poverty districts are going to feel the brunt," advocating for layoff policies prioritizing student needs and high-demand specialties rather than just seniority.

May 11, 2024

Paid parental leave at schools is so dire that teachers must hoard their sick days and time their pregnancies around summer vacation

Fortune

Teachers often plan births around summer vacation due to limited parental leave benefits. NCTQ's analysis of large districts finds less than a fifth offer any paid leave beyond sick time. NCTQ President Heather Peske urges districts to consider how this affects retention, noting "paid family leave really helps school districts attract good teachers."

April 19, 2024

Hawaii Wants to Build Houses for Teachers

Newsweek

Hawaii lawmakers proposed teacher housing and rent vouchers to combat the state's high cost of living, which makes attracting educators difficult. NCTQ research confirms Hawaii is among the most expensive places for teachers, with our analysis showing teachers in a fifth of major metro areas can't comfortably afford a one-bedroom apartment.

March 4, 2024

New report OK’s Mass. early literacy teacher prep policies

Boston Globe

Massachusetts has joined states prioritizing science-based reading instruction, earning a "moderate" rating in NCTQ's State of the States report. The article uses NCTQ data to show both Massachusetts' progress and remaining policy gaps in strengthening reading instruction.

January 16, 2024

National report ranks Nebraska ‘weak’ in implementing science of reading policies

Omaha World-Herald

NCTQ rated Nebraska as "weak" in implementing effective reading policies. The state has a lot of work to do to better prepare teachers and improve the state's concerning literacy rates, says NCTQ President Heather Peske.

January 16, 2024

What Makes a Strong Early Reading Law? Not Everyone Agrees

Education Week

Many states are pushing new reading laws, but these efforts often miss a crucial element: effective teachers. An NCTQ report examines five key policy actions across the country that strengthen teachers' ability to teach reading.

January 16, 2024

Educators rethink how to teach reading after flaws are revealed in prior methods

NPR

Two in five U.S. fourth graders can't read at a basic level. NCTQ President Heather Peske urges teacher prep programs to properly train new teachers in proven reading instructional methods.

January 1, 2024

Hawaii Gave $10,000 Raises to Teachers. It’s Working—for Now.

Mother Jones

While claims of a "national teacher shortage" make headlines, shortages vary across subjects, grade levels, and locations. NCTQ President Heather Peske urges states to set strategic compensation policies to help fill vacancies and eliminate raises for master's degrees, which don't correlate with higher teacher effectiveness.

December 5, 2023

Not all teachers want to be principals, but what comes next otherwise?

Stacker

Most professions offer advancement opportunities, yet many teachers enter classrooms planning to remain there until retirement, prompting states and districts to create leadership roles that leverage teacher expertise while allowing continued classroom work. Using NCTQ data, this article examines state policies regarding teacher leadership positions, including additional compensation.

November 14, 2023

The $1.8-Billion Lawsuit Over a Teacher Test

The New Yorker

This article chronicles a lawsuit led by Black and Latino teachers claiming a New York teacher-qualification exam discriminated against teachers of color due to disparate pass rates compared to white peers. NCTQ President Heather Peske challenges this premise while emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong licensure tests alongside efforts to better prepare aspiring teachers of color with the content knowledge needed for certification.

October 31, 2023

Why better preparation, more experience is critical for teacher retention

Dallas Morning News

Many states, including Texas, face challenges retaining teachers. Evidence shows improved teacher preparation can reduce burnout and increase stability for students. NCTQ President Heather Peske criticizes alternative fast-track programs for insufficient training, noting, "Candidates enter classrooms quickly, then leave much more quickly."

October 15, 2023

Doubling up on classrooms, using online teachers and turning to support staff: How schools are dealing with the ongoing teacher shortage

CNN

Teacher shortages vary among subjects, grade levels, and locations, requiring targeted solutions and strategic data collection. Despite this, many states have lowered teaching certification standards to get teachers into classrooms. This article cites NCTQ data on how many states have lowered standards to "fast-track" the teacher-certification process.

September 11, 2023

Teachers conquering their math anxiety

The Hechinger Report

Math anxiety affects students and adults alike, including teachers, creating a cycle where students taught by math-anxious teachers perform worse than their peers. NCTQ data reveals prep programs insufficiently allocate instructional hours to math content, and President Heather Peske urges programs to better prepare teachers in math instruction before classroom placement.

September 5, 2023

Plagued by teacher shortages, some states turn to fast-track credentialing

USA Today

As states turn to for-profit online teacher credentialing companies to address teacher shortages, critics question whether these fast-track programs provide adequate preparation. NCTQ President Heather Peske questions how these programs ensure teachers receive necessary clinical practice and content knowledge, particularly for specialized positions like special education.

August 3, 2023

Many teachers not equipped to teach elementary schoolers how to read, report says

ABC 13 News

A new NCTQ report reveals that only 25% of U.S. teacher prep programs cover all five components of scientifically based reading instruction. Our evaluation of nearly 700 programs found significant gaps in teacher training for dyslexia and English learners.

June 15, 2023

Only 25% of teacher prep programs cover all five core reading instruction areas, national report finds

The Philadelphia Inquirer

NCTQ data reveals that only one-quarter of teacher preparation programs adequately cover all five core components of reading instruction. Aspiring teachers and their students "deserve far better," says NCTQ President Heather Peske, as more than a third of fourth grade students can't read at a basic level.

June 13, 2023

Chicago Public Schools staff to get 12 weeks paid parental leave

Chalkbeat Chicago

Chicago Public Schools announced plans to offer 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for all employees, putting the district ahead of most school systems nationally. According to NCTQ data, less than a quarter of nearly 150 large school districts offer paid parental leave, with most providing fewer than 30 days.

June 8, 2023

Why do teachers pay for school supplies with their own money?

Marketplace/MPR

Teachers nationwide spend hundreds of dollars annually on classroom supplies. NCTQ President Heather Peske notes that while some schools offer supply budgets or receive parent support, teachers in high-poverty districts typically bear these costs themselves.

April 7, 2023

It Could Get a Whole Lot Easier to Teach in a Different State

Education Week

A new compact hopes to create full teacher-license reciprocity among states, easing mobility barriers for qualified educators. NCTQ's Shannon Holston emphasizes that limiting eligibility to fully licensed teachers is key to maintaining quality while keeping experienced educators in the profession.

March 27, 2023

How Schools and Programs Around the Country Are Making Teaching More Diverse

The 74

When students of color have teachers of color, they experience better attendance, fewer disciplinary issues, and higher academic achievement. NCTQ identified nearly 90 programs that successfully support candidates of color in navigating teacher licensure exams, key guardrails that help gauge whether teachers are prepared to enter the classroom.

February 22, 2023

Teachers are leaving, forcing this school to cancel classes. Lowering professional qualifications does not fix shortage, educators say

CNN

Over the last two years, 23 states have lowered teacher qualification requirements for beginning teachers, according to an NCTQ analysis. NCTQ President Heather Peske warns that lowering qualifications is harmful to students and insulting to the teaching profession.

February 3, 2023

Are Illinois schools teaching reading all wrong?

Chicago Sun Times

In Illinois, the momentum for changing how elementary students learn to read is growing. This article highlights NCTQ's Teacher Prep Review: Program Performance in Early Reading Instruction, which points out that many educator preparation programs still do not provide sufficient preparation in early reading for aspiring elementary teachers.

December 25, 2022

Overworked, underpaid? The toll of burnout is contributing to teacher shortages nationwide

USA Today

A nuanced analysis of where teacher shortages exist across the country, the contributing factors, and discussion of how students are being affected. This brief uses NCTQ data on which states publicly report key information about their teacher workforce needs.

December 21, 2022

Uncertified teachers filling holes in schools across the South

The Dallas Morning News

Southern states increasingly rely on emergency-certified teachers and those teaching outside their certification areas to fill classroom vacancies across all grade levels. NCTQ's Chief of Policy and Programs Shannon Holston warns that shortsighted hiring practices could negatively impact students for years to come.

October 13, 2022

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Nebraska Literacy Project aims to boost learning, test scores with ‘the science of reading’

Schools are bracing for widespread teacher layoffs. Here’s why

Paid parental leave at schools is so dire that teachers must hoard their sick days and time their pregnancies around summer vacation

Hawaii Wants to Build Houses for Teachers

New report OK’s Mass. early literacy teacher prep policies

National report ranks Nebraska ‘weak’ in implementing science of reading policies

What Makes a Strong Early Reading Law? Not Everyone Agrees

Educators rethink how to teach reading after flaws are revealed in prior methods

Hawaii Gave $10,000 Raises to Teachers. It’s Working—for Now.

Not all teachers want to be principals, but what comes next otherwise?

The $1.8-Billion Lawsuit Over a Teacher Test

Why better preparation, more experience is critical for teacher retention

Doubling up on classrooms, using online teachers and turning to support staff: How schools are dealing with the ongoing teacher shortage

Teachers conquering their math anxiety

Plagued by teacher shortages, some states turn to fast-track credentialing

Many teachers not equipped to teach elementary schoolers how to read, report says

Only 25% of teacher prep programs cover all five core reading instruction areas, national report finds

Chicago Public Schools staff to get 12 weeks paid parental leave

Why do teachers pay for school supplies with their own money?

It Could Get a Whole Lot Easier to Teach in a Different State

How Schools and Programs Around the Country Are Making Teaching More Diverse

Teachers are leaving, forcing this school to cancel classes. Lowering professional qualifications does not fix shortage, educators say

Are Illinois schools teaching reading all wrong?

Overworked, underpaid? The toll of burnout is contributing to teacher shortages nationwide

Uncertified teachers filling holes in schools across the South

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