Explore Policy Priorities

Explore state policies across key topics areas that directly impact teacher quality and see specific recommendations for driving change.
Elementary Reading
Strategic Staffing
Teacher Compensation
Teacher Diversity
Teacher Evaluation

Elementary Reading

State policy is crucial to ensuring elementary teachers are well-prepared and supported to deliver scientifically based reading instruction.

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Key Policy Levers
Teacher Preparation Standards
Preparation Program Approval
Licensure Tests
High-Quality Instructional Materials
Professional Learning

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Latest scores and analyses released in March 2024

OHOH ALAL ARAR CACA GAGA AKAK COCO CTCT DEDE FLFL HIHI IDID ILIL ININ IAIA KSKS KYKY LALA MEME MAMA MIMI MNMN MSMS MOMO MTMT NENE NVNV NHNH NJNJ NMNM NYNY NCNC NDND OKOK OROR PAPA RIRI SCSC SDSD TNTN TXTX UTUT VTVT VA WAWA WVWV WIWI WYWY AZAZ
Strong
Moderate
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Ungraded
How are states performing on this policy area?

Strategic Staffing

State policy can help or hinder a district’s ability to implement strategic staffing policies.

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Key Policy Levers
Seeding Innovation
Removing Barriers

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Latest scores and analyses released in September 2024

NCTQ does not currently score states for this policy area.
MSMS MOMO MTMT NENE NVNV NHNH NJNJ NMNM NYNY NDND OHOH COCO AKAK IDID HIHI WYWY WIWI ILIL ALAL AZAZ DEDE FLFL ININ MAMA NCNC GAGA ARAR IAIA KSKS KYKY MEME CTCT MIMI MNMN CACA OKOK OROR PAPA RIRI SCSC SDSD TNTN TXTX UTUT VTVT VA WAWA WVWV LALA

Teacher Compensation

Compensation is one of the most powerful policy levers states and school districts can use to attract a qualified, effective, and diverse teacher workforce.

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Key Policy Levers
Differentiated Pay for Hard-to-Staff Schools and Subjects
Performance Pay
Pay for Prior Work Experience

Latest scores and analyses released in September 2022

NCTQ does not currently score states for this policy area.
ALAL AKAK AZAZ ARAR CACA COCO CTCT DEDE FLFL GAGA HIHI IDID ILIL ININ IAIA KSKS KYKY LALA MEME MAMA MIMI MNMN MSMS MOMO MTMT NENE NVNV NHNH NJNJ NMNM NYNY NCNC NDND OHOH OKOK OROR PAPA RIRI SCSC SDSD TNTN TXTX UTUT VTVT VA WAWA WVWV WIWI WYWY

Teacher Diversity

State policy and dedicated resources are crucial for creating a more diverse educator workforce, benefiting all students, especially those of color.

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Key Policy Levers
Teacher Pipeline Programs
Financial Incentives
Supports for Teachers of Color
Data Systems

Latest scores and analyses released in August 2023

NCTQ does not currently score states for this policy area.
KYKY LALA MAMA MIMI MNMN MSMS MOMO MTMT NENE NVNV NHNH NJNJ NMNM NYNY NCNC NDND OHOH OKOK OROR PAPA RIRI SCSC SDSD TNTN TXTX UTUT VTVT VA WAWA WVWV WIWI WYWY ALAL AKAK AZAZ ARAR CACA COCO CTCT DEDE FLFL GAGA HIHI MEME IDID ILIL ININ IAIA KSKS

Teacher Evaluation

Strong teacher evaluation systems can help improve teachers’ practice, identify and uplift highly-effective teachers, remove consistently ineffective teachers from the classroom, and increase the overall quality of a district's teacher workforce.

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Key Policy Levers
Measures of Performance
Observations and Feedback
Professional Growth and Support

Latest scores and analyses released in November 2022

NCTQ does not currently score states for this policy area.
AKAK ALAL ARAR AZAZ CACA COCO CTCT DEDE FLFL GAGA HIHI IAIA IDID ILIL ININ KSKS KYKY LALA MAMA MEME MIMI MNMN MOMO MSMS MTMT NCNC NDND NENE NHNH NJNJ NMNM NVNV NYNY OHOH OKOK OROR PAPA RIRI SCSC SDSD TNTN TXTX UTUT VA VTVT WAWA WIWI WVWV WYWY