2003 NCTAF Symposium

From July 12-14, 2003, NCTAF's 20 state partners and 3 guest states convened in meetings and round table sessions to discuss strategies for moving forward on NCTAF's agenda for ensuring that every child has access to quality teaching in schools organized for success. Papers and presentations were organized around the recommendations in No Dream Denied: A Pledge to America's Children, which include: quality teacher preparation, mentored induction, and strong professional learning communities. Links to Papers and PowerPoint presentations appear below.

Papers and Presentations

2003 NCTAF Syposium Highlights
A review of the presentations and discussions from the 2003 Symposium.

NCTAF Today: 2003 Commissioners and Partner States' Symposium
By Tom Carroll, President, National Commission on Teaching and America's Future.

Launching the Next Generation of Teachers Through Quality Induction
By Ellen Moir. Moir reports on quality induction programs that can result in greater teacher retention, which not only breaks the cycle of attrition, but also saves money for school districts and ensures that teacher shortages don't dictate hiring policy.

Leading Small Secondary School Learning Communities
By Tom Vander Ark. Small schools and learning communities are difficult to create, but they hold the promise of being humane and effective places to work and learn. They create the opportunity for a common intellectual mission, coherent curriculum, and a supportive culture. They allow a small group of teachers to work together to meet shared challenges and help all students graduate ready for college, work and citizenship.

Teaching for Equity and Excellence: What it Will Really Take to Leave No Child Behind
By Linda Darling-Hammond. Outlines the consequences of under-education, sources of inequality, and strategies for equitable achievement, that include quality teacher preparation, mentoring, and strong learning communities.

Tying the Assessment of New Teachers to Student Achievement and to Teacher Preparation
By Patricia Wasley and G. William McDiarmid. Draft. Written for and presented at the 2003 Annual NCTAF Partner States' Symposium. This paper demonstrates the need to report on the impact that teacher education has on student performance and achievement. We have a responsibility to discover what teachers do to help students develop or extend critical knowledge and skills, and most important, develop a passion for learning.