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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2002

Statement

Statement of Bob Chase President National Education Association on Educational Testing Service (ETS) Survey of Public Attitudes on Teacher Quality

The survey results from the Educational Testing Service's A National Priority: Americans Speak on Teacher Quality are a welcome addition and a much-needed contribution to the research base on teacher quality.

With keen insight, Americans have identified what our nation needs to do to attract and keep talented professionals in the classroom: We must focus on better pay, improved working conditions, and more opportunities for professional development. Most notable, Americans reject the notion that lowering standards is the route to solving the nation's teacher shortage. The public recognizes that teaching is an art and a science - and that preparing quality teachers requires quality teacher preparation as well as content specific knowledge.

NEA applauds ETS for looking more deeply at Americans' views on teacher quality and shedding light on an issue that is critical to improved student achievement for America's students.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.