It could take about five years to see some real impact from the teacher-improvement program.

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The project also found that using multiple measures to understand a teacher's performance -- including classroom observations, student surveys and growth in student achievement -- provides a richer and more reliable picture of a teacher's strengths and areas for improvement than any one measure alone.

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Our ESEA reauthorization proposal, ESEA flexibility package, Race to the Top initiative, School Improvement Grant program, and the Teacher Incentive Fund all support the development of strong systems of educator evaluation and support.

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Teacher status and education are considered fundamental for the improvement of educational quality.

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Where supportive policy and appropriate incentives have been addressed, results have shown significant improvement, for example, the in-service teacher trainees in NTU project, teachers were given higher status and a salary boost when they accomplished their training courses.

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Jessica Gogerty is a National Board Certified teacher, a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, and a school improvement leader now serving at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, Iowa.

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