By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – The State Board of Regents is taking the first steps to improve the quality of teaching in New York's public schools.
The Regents released their proposed strategies Monday. They include the development of a performance-based approach to teacher certification. The Regents want to draw more teachers now employed in the sciences while insuring high need schools have the best teaching faculty possible.
State Education Commissioner David Steiner says the board needs to come up with a pathway for new teachers to learn the profession.
Steiner says preparing new teachers well and bringing excellent teachers to the children who need them are essential.
For now, the state's largest teachers union, New York State United Teachers, is keeping an open mind. Spokesman Carl Korn said the union shares the same goal as the Regents of making sure the best teachers are in the classroom.
The New York State School Boards Association welcomes the Board of Regents proposals, saying they will improve student learning, as well as teacher accountability.
Click the audio player above to hear Mark Scott's story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.