A Focus on Teacher Effectiveness, Shortages, and Cultural Proficiency
Summary
Addressing inequality, closing achievement gaps, and tackling opportunity gaps in schools requires a highly effective educator in every classroom, a diversified teacher workforce, and an implementation of culturally responsive policies and practices. The 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires State Education Agencies (SEA) to identify and close gaps in equitable access to effective teachers but does not offer specific definitions about what constitutes teacher effectiveness. There is an opportunity to build on state equity plans and collaboratively work with districts, schools, educator preparation programs, and other stakeholders to close the gap in access to effective educators, diversify the workforce, and ensure that the training of educators includes a focus on culturally proficient practices.
As cyber threats grow more complex and sophisticated, the nation’s ability to defend itself depends on developing a robust, adaptable, and highly skilled cybersecurity workforce.
For the United States to continue to be a competitive global power in technology and innovation, we need a workforce that understands how to use, apply, and develop new innovations using AI and Data Science.
Students, families and communities want and need more STEM learning experiences to realize the American Dream, and yet they cannot access them. Prioritizing STEM education must be an urgent priority for the federal government and the Department of Education.
The Department of Education must provide guidance for education decision-makers to evaluate AI solutions during procurement, to support EdTech developers to mitigate bias in their applications, and to develop new fairness methods.