Explore Alabama's policies, see in-depth analyses, review recommendations for policymakers and advocates, and access specific citations by selecting a topic below.
Elementary Reading
State policy plays a key role in ensuring teachers are well-prepared to implement and sustain the science of reading in classrooms across the country.
Teacher Preparation
State policy plays a key role in establishing requirements and data systems necessary to recruit a strong teacher workforce that meets the needs of its students.
Elementary Teacher Preparation
State policy provides standards and requirements for the preparation and licensing of new elementary teachers.
Secondary Teacher Preparation
State policy provides standards and requirements for the preparation and licensing of new middle and high school teachers.
Special Education Teacher Preparation
Special education teachers are a critical part of elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
Alternate Routes
States must balance between upholding standards for educators that come into the profession via alternate routes with providing flexibility by differentiating the requirements they place on these programs from traditional pathways.
Teacher Diversity
States can support greater teacher diversity through policies that promote increased recruitment, support, and retention of teachers of color at every stage of the pipeline.
Hiring
States have an obligation to maintain the integrity of their licensure systems and ensure teacher quality for all students.
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
State system requirements or district guidance for the evaluation of teachers and principals are among the most powerful tools for fostering a high-quality teacher workforce and ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective educators.
Teacher Compensation
Decisions about teacher pay are often left to district discretion, but every state can support districts in using teacher compensation strategically.
Early Childhood Preparation
Early childhood or preschool teachers need essential knowledge and skills to support their students.
Retaining Effective Teachers
States have a role to play in ensuring that current teachers are supported and that the process of licensure and career advancement for teachers prioritizes effectiveness in the classroom.
General Teacher Preparation
State policy plays a key role in establishing requirements and data systems necessary to recruit a strong teacher workforce that meets the needs of its students.
Elementary Teacher Preparation
State policy provides standards and requirements for the preparation and licensing of new elementary teachers.
Secondary Teacher Preparation
State policy provides standards and requirements for the preparation and licensing of new middle and high school teachers.
Special Education Teacher Preparation
Special education teachers are a critical part of elementary, middle, and high school classrooms.
Alternate Routes
States must balance between upholding standards for educators that come into the profession via alternate routes with providing flexibility by differentiating the requirements they place on these programs from traditional pathways.
Hiring
States have an obligation to maintain the integrity of their licensure systems and ensure teacher quality for all students.
Teacher and Principal Evaluation
State system requirements or district guidance for the evaluation of teachers and principals are among the most powerful tools for fostering a high-quality teacher workforce and ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective educators.
Teacher Compensation
Decisions about teacher pay are often left to district discretion, but every state can support districts in using teacher compensation strategically.
Retaining Effective Teachers
States have a role to play in ensuring that current teachers are supported and that the process of licensure and career advancement for teachers prioritizes effectiveness in the classroom.
Early Childhood Preparation
Early childhood or preschool teachers need essential knowledge and skills to support their students.
Delivering Well Prepared Teachers
State policy plays a key role in establishing requirements and data systems necessary to recruit a strong teacher workforce that meets the needs of its students.
Expanding the Pool of Teachers
States have an obligation to maintain the integrity of their licensure systems and ensure teacher quality for all students.
Identifying Effective Teachers
State system requirements or district guidance for the evaluation of teachers are among the most powerful tools for fostering a high-quality teacher workforce and ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective educators.
Retaining Effective Teachers
States have a role to play in ensuring that current teachers are supported and to support districts in using teacher compensation strategically.
Exiting Ineffective Teachers
States have a responsibility to strike the appropriate balance of interests between teachers and students when it comes to difficult decisions regarding removing teachers from the classroom.
Pensions
Pensions remain a vexing public policy issue with direct implications for attracting and retaining a high-quality teacher workforce.
Delivering Well Prepared Teachers
State policy plays a key role in establishing requirements and data systems necessary to recruit a strong teacher workforce that meets the needs of its students.
Expanding the Pool of Teachers
States have an obligation to maintain the integrity of their licensure systems and ensure teacher quality for all students.
Identifying Effective Teachers
State system requirements or district guidance for the evaluation of teachers are among the most powerful tools for fostering a high-quality teacher workforce and ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective educators.
Retaining Effective Teachers
States have a role to play in ensuring that current teachers are supported and to support districts in using teacher compensation strategically.
Exiting Ineffective Teachers
States have a responsibility to strike the appropriate balance of interests between teachers and students when it comes to difficult decisions regarding removing teachers from the classroom.
Pensions
Pensions remain a vexing public policy issue with direct implications for attracting and retaining a high-quality teacher workforce.
Delivering Well Prepared Teachers
State policy plays a key role in establishing requirements and data systems necessary to recruit a strong teacher workforce that meets the needs of its students.
Expanding the Pool of Teachers
States have an obligation to maintain the integrity of their licensure systems and ensure teacher quality for all students.
Identifying Effective Teachers
State system requirements or district guidance for the evaluation of teachers are among the most powerful tools for fostering a high-quality teacher workforce and ensuring that all students have equitable access to effective educators.
Retaining Effective Teachers
States have a role to play in ensuring that current teachers are supported and to support districts in using teacher compensation strategically.
Exiting Ineffective Teachers
States have a responsibility to strike the appropriate balance of interests between teachers and students when it comes to difficult decisions regarding removing teachers from the classroom.
