Read about the potential impact of UTRs on traditional teacher education in CTQ's Urban teacher residency models and institutes of higher education: Implications for teacher preparation. This paper reveals a number of policy and financial issues related to university support for UTRs — and highlights the efforts of Bank Street College to transform its teacher education program despite the hurdles of NYC school district bureaucracy. Inside, read Ariel Sacks' eloquent essay on learning to teach and the importance of teacher education. Ariel is a Teacher Leaders Network member and Bank Street College graduate.
 

The new PDK poll provides plenty of food for thought in its analysis of Americans' views toward public education. A few highlights:

• Presidential Candidates — Americans view Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as much more supportive of public schools than Republican presidential candidate John McCain.
   
• Assessment — In a change from nine years ago, Americans believe written observations by teachers, as opposed to scores on standardized tests, are a superior way to document student academic progress.
   
• Teacher Pay — Almost three of four Americans believe teachers should be paid higher salaries as an incentive to teach in schools identified as "in need of improvement."
   
• Federal Funding — Lack of funding for schools tops the list of “biggest problems facing schools” for the sixth year in a row. Americans support an increased use of federal funds to maintain local public schools.
   
• International Comparisons — Americans like the schools in their local community, but they perceive schools in Europe and Asia as superior, and they worry that our students will not be able to compete.

Among the half-dozen commentators highlighted in the report, TLN Forum member and prominent edublogger Bill Ferriter was the only featured teacher. Read more about Ferriter's contributions to the poll at Teacher Leadership Today.