Extending the Reach of Excellent Teachers - Opportunity Culture

The U.S. spends more per capita on K–12 education than almost every other country on Earth. Yet achievement gaps persist, and we have fallen behind globally.

Why? Only 25 percent of classes are taught by excellent teachers. With an excellent teacher versus an average teacher, students make about an extra half-year of progress every year—closing achievement gaps fast, leaping ahead to become honors students, and surging forward like top international peers.

Unfortunately, existing strategies alone will never fill our 3 million classrooms with teachers as good as today’s top 25 percent. Schools can fix this by extending the reach of excellent teachers using job redesign and technology.

New school models also create career paths that offer all teachers career advancement opportunities. Advancement allows greater impact on children and more pay—within budget.

We call this an Opportunity Culture.

• Why This Matters: What research says about the impact excellent teachers have on student learning.
• Redesigning Schools: More than 20 school models showing how to extend the reach of excellent teachers to more students, within budget. Plus new career paths that respect teachers’ time and talents, and help every teacher pursue excellence.
• Reforming Policy: How to clear barriers and create the will to reach all students with excellent teachers fast.
• The Opportunity Culture Initiative: Public Impact’s work to disseminate new school models and to catalyze implementation nationally.