Why focus on Removing Barriers to support Strategic Staffing?
Although state policy is often not a significant hurdle to implementing strategic staffing models, there are several barriers that states can eliminate to support districts implementing innovative staffing models. These include class size restrictions, how teachers use their time, and more.
State performance on Removing Barriers for Strategic Staffing
Although state policy is not a substantial barrier to implementing strategic staffing policies, several states have policies that could hinder district’s ability to innovate with strategic staffing models. These include well-intentioned but restrictive class size laws, limitations on who can observe teachers, limitations on including team outcomes in teacher evaluations, and guidelines on how teachers leverage their time and support staff in the classroom.
NCTQ evaluates whether states are effectively using a policy lever by examining if they allow certain waivers to support strategic staffing, permit teachers to observe their colleagues, allow districts and schools to determine how teachers use their planning time, permit paraprofessionals or aides to support instruction, and allow districts to use team outcomes in teacher evaluations. Explore the key actions below to learn more about how each state is implementing policies to support Strategic Staffing. (NCTQ does not currently assign rankings to states for this policy area.)
Who stands out?
What are the key actions states should take?
Key Resources
Reimagining the Teaching Role
Explore NCTQ’s detailed 2024 analysis of strategic staffing policies.
Reimagining the Teaching Role: Research Summary
Dive into the research leading states and districts to innovate with strategic staffing models.
References
- NCTQ defines observations in this context as those that count toward a teacher’s evaluation.