Consulting Services

The New Teacher Center provides a wide array of services and supports to policy makers and policy professionals to ensure the development of effective programs and practices around teacher and principal induction (and related areas). Working with state agencies, elected officials, teacher unions, universities, local district leaders, and other key education stakeholders, the NTC is committed to ensuring collaborative, research-based consultation and support that ultimately leads to better outcomes for teachers, administrators and, most importantly, students. NTC support activities include: 

Facilitation of State Task Forces and Policy Committees

The New Teacher Center facilitates inter- and intra-state task forces, bringing together multiple state agencies and policy leaders to build a common vision around high-quality induction policy and other professional development strategies that support new teachers and administrators. The NTC provides regular and ongoing support to policymakers and other stakeholders who are working on legislation, regulations, program standards, and other policy changes. NTC staff also have facilitated multi-stakeholder groups at the local level (i.e. universities, k-12 institutions, community-based organizations, etc.) to ensure multi-lateral support for and collaboration around local induction programs. 

Development of Induction Program Standards

Effective program standards are essential to the design of induction programs that lead to improved retention and strengthen the professional practices of novice educators. Without research-driven program standards, the resources spent on mentoring programs and related activities may be diluted or completely ineffective. The NTC works with local, state, and national leaders to help assess current needs and identify strategies to meet those needs through the development of contextualized induction program standards. 

Drafting of Legislation 

Many policy makers have requested that the NTC support the drafting of policy. Informed by statewide legislative efforts in California, Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, New Jersey and Virginia, the NTC has developed a broad portfolio of legislative language and a menu of policy options that can be adopted to meet local, state, and national needs.

Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation of Induction Programs

NTC staff work with local, state and national education leaders to help design and implement induction policies while providing the tools necessary to measure the success of the programs. Whether developing small pilot programs or statewide induction initiatives, policy makers and education leaders can benefit from NTC expertise in creating effective design principles and evaluating induction programs.

Consulting on Teacher and Administrator Induction-centered Policies

Many states and local agencies report they have limited or insufficient policies in place to secure the implementation of high-quality programs and implementation. NTC staff work with policy leaders to build knowledge around how model induction policies fit within the local or state contexts, and engage in strategies that create movement toward policy development. 

Creation of Policy Frameworks and Documents

Created in collaboration with education agencies, policymakers, and induction advocates, the NTC has begun to develop hands-on materials that support the policy process. From vision statements and policy frameworks to action plans and legislative talking points, these materials have served as a cornerstone for increasing awareness and maximizing funding opportunities for induction-centered policies.    

Consulting on Teacher and Principal Policies Related to Induction

Many states and local agencies report they have limited or insufficient policies in place to secure the implementation of high-quality programs and implementation. NTC staff work with policy leaders to build knowledge around how model induction policies fit within the local or state context, and engage in strategies that create policy movement. 

Consulting on Induction-related Policies

In order to create optimal learning and working conditions for both students and educators, school districts need to ensure that all policies (not just those that are induction-focused) are aligned to further this goal. The New Teacher Center works at the local, state, and national levels to build robust policies that support teacher and administrator development in areas related to induction, such as teacher evaluation systems, new teacher hiring and placement, compensation, leadership, principal training, professional development, and collaborative learning communities. 

Input to Legislative Committees and Staff

With 19 years of experience in providing support for high-quality induction, the NTC has become a national resource to help legislative committees and staff think about and formulate policies that impact teacher and administrator development. The NTC welcomes invitations to collaborate on state initiatives to strengthen supports for new teachers and administrators.

Presentations at Meetings and Conferences

NTC staff have presented at and served as resource experts at dozens of national, regional, state and local policy conferences in recent years. Our staff have expertise in providing an overview of the key components of high-quality mentoring and induction, in helping to lay out specific policy options for states and districts, and in understanding the linkages between a wide array of educator-specific policies at the federal, state and local levels. As in the rest of our work at the NTC, we focus on the needs of policymakers and practitioners and tailor our remarks and recommendations to best serve your needs.

If you are an educational leader interested in helping to shape policies at the local, state, or national level, please contact us to learn more about how the New Teacher Center can support your efforts. 

Contact Gary Bloom , Janet Gless , or Liam Goldrick or leave a message at 831.459.4323..