National PTA Joins Nationwide Discussion on Teacher Quality

PTA | For Immediate Release

National PTA Joins Nationwide Discussion on Teacher Quality

Supports transparency, accountability system with multiple measures

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (August 26, 2010) – A series of articles on teacher quality recently published by the Los Angeles Times and comments this week by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan drew attention to the national conversation on teacher quality. National PTA® believes that high-quality teachers are needed to provide the excellent education that all students deserve. As the student population becomes more diverse, teachers also need to be diverse and prepared to meet the needs of today’s students and help close the achievement gap. National PTA agrees with Secretary Duncan that “the responsibility for educating our children does not fall to teachers alone.” Educating our nation’s students is a shared responsibility between families, schools, and the community. “Since its founding in 1897, improving education for all children has been at the core of PTA’s work,” said Charles J. “Chuck” Saylors, National PTA President. “To be true partners in closing the achievement gap, parents need data about student performance and teacher quality to support learning at home and drive education reform.” National PTA supports a balanced accountability system that uses multiple measures in order to improve academic achievement. We agree with Secretary Duncan’s remarks this week when he said, “By requiring