Teachers matter. TNTP believes that if public schools are to succeed, local- and state-level policies must support, not undermine, their ability to find, hire and retain the highest-quality teachers possible. Through our research and advocacy work, we seek to have a more global impact on teacher quality in the nation’s high-need public schools. We endeavor not only to identify the root causes of the challenges confronting urban and high-poverty school districts as they strive to attract, hire and keep outstanding teachers, but to provide actionable recommendations and effective tools that make reform feasible. In addition, we are committed to building public awareness of the problems these school districts face and communicating the urgency of the need for reform. TNTP puts its research and analytical experience to work for its clients by offering the following services:

• Comprehensive school staffing policy studies accompanied by specific reform recommendations
• Training in effective school staffing policies

Comprehensive School Staffing Policy Studies

TNTP specializes in conducting systemwide evaluations of teacher hiring and school staffing policies and practices in urban districts. To date, we have published two national studies on these issues: Missed Opportunities and Unintended Consequences. In addition, we have published an ongoing series of reports on teacher hiring, assignment and transfer issues in urban schools.  We help our clients improve their staffing policies by:

• Collecting and analyzing teacher hiring and mobility data
• Conducting surveys, interviews and focus groups to build a qualitative picture of how teacher hiring and school staffing happens
• Assessing district and state-level policies that influence hiring and staffing
• Quantifying the repercussions that identified problems have on teacher hiring efforts
• Producing clear, sensible and straightforward analyses of the problems
• Developing reasonable recommendations to address the challenges we identify
• Sharing findings with key local stakeholders, including teachers unions and school boards
• Supporting or carrying out reform strategies through public awareness campaigns and non-partisan advocacy initiatives

Training in Effective School Staffing Policies

TNTP believes that school staffing policies that encourage open and efficient teacher hiring and that respect both teachers and principals in hiring decisions benefit everyone involved – teachers, principals, district staff, and teachers unions. In particular, TNTP’s research suggests that mutual consent placements create better working conditions and increase job satisfaction for teachers. To help districts and teachers unions collaborate in the pursuit of smart reforms, TNTP offers high-quality, two-day intensive trainings focused on aligning contract provisions with best practices for human capital growth and management. These trainings can be provided to:

• District leaders
• Teachers union leaders
• School board members
• Labor relations staff

Click here to learn more about how we are implementing our research findings through our School Staffing Initiatives.

Questions?

For more information on our services, contact us at info@tntp.org or (718) 233-2800.