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State Teacher Policy Database

2017

Explore NCTQ data and analysis of state laws, rules, and regulations that shape the teaching profession- from teacher preparation, licensing, and evaluation to compensation, professional development, and dismissal policies.

See State Grades Compare State Data
Suggested Citation:
National Council on Teacher Quality. (2017). State Teacher Policy Database.
Retrieved from: https://www.nctq.org/yearbook/home

Overview

The 2017 Yearbook evaluates states against nine policy goals with this year's edition adding areas to reflect teacher diversity initiatives, principal evaluation and support systems, and state support for teacher leadership opportunities. The National Average in this year's Yearbook was a C-, with Florida and Louisiana receiving the highest grades (B+).

A Step Back

This year's Yearbook saw the most states' grades decline from the previous Yearbook than ever before, with roughly half of all states' grades remaining unchanged.

Bright Spots

There were some bright spots in the 2017 Yearbook. In the policy areas governing the structure of student teaching, providing more levels of ratings for evaluating teachers, and ramping up the quality of principal evaluations, a number of states moved the ball forward.

The National Overview offers a look at national trends in teacher policy. Select a specific policy area to explore NCTQ's comprehensive analysis.

GOALS

General Teacher Preparation
Elementary Teacher Preparation
Secondary Teacher Preparation
Special Education Teacher Preparation
Alternate Routes
Hiring
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
Teacher Compensation
Retaining Effective Teachers
Early Childhood Preparation
State Analyses provide an in-depth look into each state's teacher policy findings and recommendations. Select a state for an overview and to explore by policy area.

GOALS

Blank means the area was not graded because it is new to the Yearbook OR
because the research on best practices in the area is mixed or unclear.

General Teacher Preparation
Elementary Teacher Preparation
Secondary Teacher Preparation
Special Education Teacher Preparation
Alternate Routes
Hiring
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
Teacher Compensation
Retaining Effective Teachers
Early Childhood Preparation

National Overview

2017
  • a

    0 states

  • b

    12 states

  • c

    19 states

  • d

    18 states

  • f

    2 states

National AVG: C-
Alaska's Overall Grade
D-
  • 2015: D-
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D
Alabama's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: D+
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
Arkansas's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C
Arizona's Overall Grade
D
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: D+
California's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D+
Colorado's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: C
  • 2013: C+
  • 2011: C
Connecticut's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C-
District of Columbia's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D+
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D
Delaware's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: C+
  • 2011: C
Florida's Overall Grade
B+
  • 2015: B+
  • 2013: B+
  • 2011: B
Georgia's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C
Hawaii's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D+
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D-
Iowa's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D
Idaho's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D+
Illinois's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: C+
  • 2013: C+
  • 2011: C
Indiana's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: B
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C+
Kansas's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D+
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D
Kentucky's Overall Grade
C-
  • 2015: C
  • 2013: C
  • 2011: D+
Louisiana's Overall Grade
B+
  • 2015: B
  • 2013: B
  • 2011: C-
Massachusetts's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C
Maryland's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D+
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D+
Maine's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: D-
Michigan's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C+
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C+
Minnesota's Overall Grade
C-
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
Missouri's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: D
Mississippi's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C
  • 2013: C
  • 2011: D+
Montana's Overall Grade
F
  • 2015: F
  • 2013: F
  • 2011: F
North Carolina's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C
  • 2011: D+
North Dakota's Overall Grade
D
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D
Nebraska's Overall Grade
D
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D-
  • 2011: D-
New Hampshire's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D-
New Jersey's Overall Grade
B
  • 2015: C+
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: D+
New Mexico's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D+
Nevada's Overall Grade
C-
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
New York's Overall Grade
B
  • 2015: B
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C
Ohio's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: C+
Oklahoma's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B-
  • 2011: B-
Oregon's Overall Grade
D-
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D-
Pennsylvania's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: D+
Rhode Island's Overall Grade
B
  • 2015: B-
  • 2013: B
  • 2011: B-
South Carolina's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: C
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
South Dakota's Overall Grade
F
  • 2015: D-
  • 2013: D-
  • 2011: D
Tennessee's Overall Grade
B
  • 2015: B
  • 2013: B
  • 2011: B-
Texas's Overall Grade
B-
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
Utah's Overall Grade
C
  • 2015: C+
  • 2013: C
  • 2011: C-
Virginia's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: C+
  • 2013: C+
  • 2011: D+
Vermont's Overall Grade
D
  • 2015: D-
  • 2013: D-
  • 2011: D-
Washington's Overall Grade
C-
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: C-
Wisconsin's Overall Grade
D+
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D+
  • 2011: D
West Virginia's Overall Grade
C+
  • 2015: C-
  • 2013: C-
  • 2011: D+
Wyoming's Overall Grade
D
  • 2015: D
  • 2013: D
  • 2011: D
Yearbook cover

2017 National Summary

NCTQ's bi-annual 2017 State Teacher Policy Yearbook grades states on how well their programs and policies raise the quality of the teachers in their schools. The 2017 Yearbook evaluates states against nine policy areas, with this year's edition including, for the first time, information to reflect teacher diversity initiatives, principal evaluation and support systems, and state support for teacher leadership opportunities. For all 50 states and the District of Columbia, NCTQ produces a customized summary that provides state policy strengths and opportunities for improvement.

Or select a specific state

  • Download state report