California's Teaching Force 2010: Key Issues and Trends

Abstract

For more than a decade, the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning has supported the Teaching and California's Future (TCF) initiative to provide California policymakers with objective and timely data on the state's teacher workforce. Each year, the Center publishes a report on the status of teaching profession. This year's report focuses on the implications of the recent budget cuts and policy shifts for the state's teacher workforce. The report is targeted toward a broad audience of policymakers, education leaders, philanthropic organizations, and researchers, with particular attention to issues relevant to the new governor, state superintendent of public instruction, and new legislators as they prepare to take office. This report is organized around four key themes: the contraction of the teacher workforce and other issues affecting the teacher supply pipeline; the weakening of the teacher development system in the context of reductions in funding; ongoing efforts to define and evaluate teacher quality; and the need for a fully developed, robust longitudinal statewide data system. Appendices include: (1) Additional Exhibits and Technical Information; and (2) Excerpts From External Reports on California's Data System. (Contains 30 footnotes and 23 exhibits.) [This report was produced by The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning in consultation with their co-sponsors: California State University; University of California, Office of the President; and WestEd. Additional funding for this report was provided by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.]