Strengthening the Teacher Workforce

A new report from the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) explores factors driving high turnover among educators serving the growing populations of students with disabilities and English learners.

The NCTQ State of the States report takes a look at key strategies that states can implement to strengthen the teacher workforce to ensure all students — especially those with disabilities and English learners — have access to high-quality instruction.

NCTQ recommends states focus on six key policy levers to support and retain educators:

• Cooperating teachers
• Teacher prep standards
• Principal prep standards
• Reading knowledge
• Financial Incentives
• Professional learning

Differentiated pay is a particularly effective strategy for attracting and retaining educators in high-need areas. Currently, only 18 states offer higher compensation for special education teachers, and just eight do so for teachers of English learners. Research suggests that a minimum increase of $5,000 in annual pay is necessary to have a meaningful impact on recruitment and retention.

Visit the NCTQ website to download the full State of the States: Building a Strong Teacher Workforce for Students with Disabilities and English Learners report.