No Child Left Behind - Title II-A: Improving Teacher Quality State Grants
What is the Improving Teacher Quality program?
• The Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program increases student achievement by elevating
teacher and principal quality through recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies.
• The program requires scientifically based professional development interventions and holds
districts and schools accountable for improvements in student academic performance.
• The state must ensure that all teachers are “highly qualified” no later than the end of the 2005-06
school year.
How are the Teacher Quality funds distributed to schools?
• Funds are allocated through a formula based on the school-age population and the number of
children in poverty in each state.
• Ninety-five percent of the state funding is distributed through sub-grants to local districts using a
formula that takes into account the school-age population and the number of children in poverty in
each district.
How can schools use Teacher Quality funding?
• Developing and implementing initiatives to assist in recruiting highly qualified teachers
• Providing professional development activities that improve the knowledge of teachers and
principals and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals, concerning one or more of the core
academic subjects that the teachers teach; and effective instructional strategies, methods, and
skills, and use of challenging State academic content standards to improve student achievement
• Developing and implementing initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers and
principals
• Carrying out professional development activities designed to improve the quality of principals and
superintendents
• Hiring highly qualified teachers
• Carrying out teacher advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize
multiple career paths
• Carrying out programs and activities related to exemplary teachers
• The Improving Teacher Quality State Grants program increases student achievement by elevating
teacher and principal quality through recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies.
• The program requires scientifically based professional development interventions and holds
districts and schools accountable for improvements in student academic performance.
• The state must ensure that all teachers are “highly qualified” no later than the end of the 2005-06
school year.
How are the Teacher Quality funds distributed to schools?
• Funds are allocated through a formula based on the school-age population and the number of
children in poverty in each state.
• Ninety-five percent of the state funding is distributed through sub-grants to local districts using a
formula that takes into account the school-age population and the number of children in poverty in
each district.
How can schools use Teacher Quality funding?
• Developing and implementing initiatives to assist in recruiting highly qualified teachers
• Providing professional development activities that improve the knowledge of teachers and
principals and, in appropriate cases, paraprofessionals, concerning one or more of the core
academic subjects that the teachers teach; and effective instructional strategies, methods, and
skills, and use of challenging State academic content standards to improve student achievement
• Developing and implementing initiatives to promote retention of highly qualified teachers and
principals
• Carrying out professional development activities designed to improve the quality of principals and
superintendents
• Hiring highly qualified teachers
• Carrying out teacher advancement initiatives that promote professional growth and emphasize
multiple career paths
• Carrying out programs and activities related to exemplary teachers
