Chapter 12: The Growth of the Teacher Advancement Program

In this presentation we introduce you to the Teacher Advancement Program (TAP), and discuss the growth of TAP. We have a serious problem in this country because not enough of our best and our brightest are pursuing education as a career. Moreover, of those who do, too many leave the classroom after a short time.

My colleague John Schacter and I will talk about the importance of teacher quality and how the Teacher Advancement Program has proven to be an exciting and successful way of attracting, motivating, developing, and retaining high-quality teachers in America’s K–12 schools. We have been working on TAP for over four years and, by now national policy has caught up with us. Teacher quality is a major policy issue today, and as you know, by 2005–2006, states have to ensure that all teachers are highly qualified. According to No Child Left Behind, highly qualified means fully licensed or certified, including alternative certification, no waivers, or emergency credentials.