U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of $99.8 million for 12 new five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grants that aim to raise student achievement by improving instruction in our nation's schools. The grants, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used to reform traditional university teacher preparation programs as well as create teacher residency programs for professionals from other fields entering the teaching profession.

"Teaching has never been more difficult, or more important," Duncan said, "and the need for student success has never been more urgent. These grants will strengthen teacher preparation and residency programs to ensure that new teachers, whether entering from college or from other careers, have the skills to boost student learning and be highly effective in today's diverse and challenging classrooms."

The partnerships announced today are comprised of high-need school districts and their high-need schools in collaboration with an institution of higher education and its schools of education and arts and sciences. Other partners often include community organizations, state agencies, charter schools, foundations, and businesses.

Of the 12 grants announced today, seven will focus on improving their teacher residency programs, which follow the medical model in which residents are placed in schools with comprehensive induction and extensive support. Teaching residents are paid a living wage and expected to teach for three years in a partnering high-need school. Three of the grantees will reform their pre-baccalaureate or fifth year licensing program, and two will do both. All grantees will collect and use student achievement data to determine the impact of participating teachers on student learning and for continuous program improvement. Five of the grants will also develop and implement a school leadership program to prepare candidates for careers as principals, superintendents, and other school leaders.

Earlier this week the Obama administration unveiled its plan to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Act, which includes incentives and supports for states and school districts to recruit, prepare, reward and retain effective teachers and school leaders. The 2011 budget request for teacher and leader effectiveness programs is aligned with these goals, and reflects the secretary's firm belief that great teachers and principals are essential to improve student achievement.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Below is a list of grantees, alphabetical by state, with project name, project director, contact information, and grant amount.

TEACHER QUALITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS

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