ABSTRACT
So what does the connection between teacher quality and student achievement really mean? First, the importance of teacher quality cannot be overstated (Goldhaber, 2002). Of all the factors within our control in the educational enterprise, teacher quality matters most. There is no other schoolrelated factor that will touch the lives of students so profoundly. And if this is true, then, second, it is incumbent on us to ascertain what are those teacher qualities that make such a difference in students’ academic lives. Finally, we must know what is good teaching, make the best possible choices in selecting good teachers, develop our teaching corps based on the qualities of teacher effectiveness, and then do all within our ability to retain the best teachers. This concluding chapter addresses practical implications of matters of teacher quality via the following guiding questions:
♦ Can schools improve without teacher quality?
