Chiefs for Change Endorses GREAT Act Supporting Rigorous, Goals-Oriented Teacher and Principal Training: 02/16/2012

Washington, DC - Chiefs for Change, an organization of chief state education officers representing more than 11 million students nationwide, issued a statement today supporting the GREAT Act:

“One of Chief for Change’s core principles is that federal law should encourage and reward the recruitment and retention of excellent teachers and leaders.  The GREAT Act, introduced by Representative Thomas Petri of Wisconsin, will support teacher and principal training programs that are rigorously selective, involve clinical training methods, and tie graduation from the programs to student learning. We believe the GREAT Act furthers the Education and Workforce Committee’s admirable efforts to spend Title II dollars more effectively, at the state level, and with an emphasis on outcomes, not process.

“As an organization dedicated to putting students first through visionary education reform, we support legislation like the GREAT Act that improves student achievement and provides states the incentives to make bold reforms. The GREAT Act will allow states to create a pipeline of high-quality teachers and school leaders who can measurably improve the performance of their students. There is an appropriate federal role in incentivizing states to innovate teacher and leader training.  As we’ve seen with the Race to the Top, clear incentives can generate dramatic change. The GREAT Act provides states the incentives they need to reform.”