The Center for Strengthening the Teaching Profession (CSTP) has a clear and focused mission- making sure Washington's students experience the excellent teaching they need to succeed.

If students in Washington's public schools are to reach the high standards that have been set for them, it will be the state's teaching force - current teachers and new ones - who get them there.

CSTP is an independent, nonprofit organization that supports student achievement through its focus on improving the quality of teaching. CSTP commissions research and builds capacity for using data to inform policy discussions and decision making; provides teachers with opportunities to develop leadership skills and contribute to policy decisions; and engages the public in dialogue centered on powerful learning for all students.

CSTP promotes state and local policies and practices that build a strong, supported and effective teaching force for Washington's students.

Priorities

Research: Creating Information about the status of teaching in Washington

CSTP is a source for accurate, nonpartisan information about the teaching force in Washington. With its research partners, CSTP generates timely and comprehensive analytical reports, user-friendly brochures. Web-based synopses, and electronic communications to help legislators and the education community make well-informed program and policy decisions.

CSTP research:

•Provides information about the skills and knowledge teachers bring to the classroom, as well as school-by-school and district-by-district analyses of the distribution of the workforce across the state;

•Determines how well teachers are supported in their work by the school, the district and the state; and

•Identifies and promotes effective practices in professional learning.

Teacher leadership: Developing the skills of teacher leaders and increasing leadership opportunities

To amplify the voice of teachers in shaping local and state policies, CSTP develops teachers' skills in speaking and writing, identifies opportunities for experience teachers to participate in policy discussions, and supports a network of accomplished teachers interested in expanding their capacity for leadership.

Reinforced by CSTP training, teachers are publishing journal articles; reflecting on their practices and writing case studies; testifying at legislative hearings, designing professional development for colleagues and the broader education community; and securing grants to support improvements in their classrooms.

Dialogue: Engaging the education community and the public to improve teaching

Washington has no lack of ideas on how to ensure quality teaching. To inform the dialogue and move from ideas to actions, CSTP convenes stakeholders on topics of interest in venues across the state. The recommendations emerging from these events are distributed to education stakeholders, policymakers and the public. For example, the conclusions of a group convened by CSTP to develop induction standards became the publication Effective Support of New Teachers in Washington State: Standards for Beginning Teacher Induction.

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