More from LPI Authors

In today’s knowledge economy, teachers must prioritize problem-solving ability, adaptability, critical thinking, and developing interpersonal and collaborative skills over rote memorization and the passive transmission of knowledge. This has significant implications for teacher preparation programs. This book examines those implications and several programs that are preparing their graduates to provide students with the "deeper learning" that prepares them for college, career, and civic participation.

The School Development Program (SDP) established by child psychiatrist James P. Comer and the Yale Child Study Center, is grounded in the belief that successful schooling—particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds—must focus on the whole child. With the Whole Child in Mind describes SDP’s six developmental pathways and explains how the program's nine key components create a comprehensive approach to educating children for successful outcomes.

The book provides a comprehensive examination of how states can build high-quality early education systems: It discusses design and implementation, themes to guide program development, effective management and collaboration with state agencies, and the central role that teachers play in improving children’s lives. There is no single roadmap to excellence, but the varied experiences of states can provide important insights into the policies and practices that lead to quality early learning.

Black teacher turnover rates are significantly higher than those of other teachers in the United States. A chapter in the new book, Black Female Teachers: Diversifying the United States’ Teacher Workforce, reports on what causes these higher rates and what policy interventions might bring Black teachers back into the profession, including teacher residencies, loan forgiveness, mentoring and induction, and principal training programs.