Developing "highly effective teachers" is the sine qua non of improved academic outcomes for students. Yet there is a well-documented, multi-faceted crisis in the teaching profession. School systems are struggling to attract and keep excellent teachers, and urban systems struggle the most.

Teacher training has become identified as a leverage point for school reform. While imporved teacher training at all levels is needed, training middle and high school teachers, where subject matter expertise must be coupled with effective pedagogy is a matter of great urgency.

With support from the Trefler Foundation, UMass Boston's Graduate School of Education developed a program called Teach Next Year, which created Boston's first "residency" model of teacher preparation. Teach Next Year places Master's degree candidates directly in urban classrooms where they train "on the ground" for urban teaching assignments. A rigorous academic program complements the school-based experience. Teach Next Year helped Dorchester High School in its reform efforts and created a pipeline of committed and capable urban high school teachers.

The Foundation has supported Teach Next Year for 10 years and has asked UMass Boston to prepare an evaluation of the program. We will share findings from this process as they emerge.

Download the Foundation National Overview of Organizations Supporting Teacher Recruitment, Induction, and Professional Development (PDF).