ATPE Research on Educator Quality
In 2008 and 2010, ATPE commissioned major research studies on teacher quality, its impact on student achievement and school improvement, and how teacher quality is distributed through Texas. The studies led by Dr. Ed Fuller, a noted education researcher, found a direct correlation between teacher quality and student achievement, especially at the secondary level and in the areas of math and science. Schools with high-poverty and high-minority student populations and schools struggling to meet accountability standards were found to have lower teacher quality measures than other schools. The research identified several best practices for school improvement centered on funding, teacher recruitment and retention initiatives, and the involvement of educators and parents in decision-making, among other recommendations.