ADVISORY/Experts Available To Discuss Quality Checks for U.S. Teachers.

Business Editors

ADVISORY...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

TOPIC: Federal education law requires that the nation's public school teachers go through a quality check so that, by the end of the 2005-06 school year, teachers of core subjects will be highly qualified, according to an article by The Associated Press. Teachers considered "highly qualified" will have a bachelor's degree, a state license or certification and will have demonstrated a thorough understanding of the subject they teach. Teachers who do not have a degree in the subject they teach may be required to pass a test on the subject or pass a state evaluation, which may also include a test.

EXPERTS: ExpertSource can offer several highly qualified experts to comment on this story:

Jon Bower is the president and CEO of Lexia Learning Systems, Inc., which is a developer of professional development courses, remedial reading curricula and research-based reading software for ages 4 through adult. Jon has over 20 years of experience in the education and high-tech communities. He works with approximately 10,000 schools across the United States. Jon is also the chairman of the Massachusetts Partnership for Achievement in Reading (PAR), which provides professional development for K-3 educators and aims to improve children's early reading skills - this is the type of early intervention critical to countering illiteracy. In addition, Jon is a member of the Board of Trustees of Mass Bay Community College. Jon is the author of "Achieving Educational Quality," which explores the relationship between the 1978 manufacturing and 2002 education systems. Jon demonstrates that if educational quality assurance is to be implemented, educators must first be provided with the necessary tools and training to measure the learning status of each student in the class and the specific skills they still need to move to the next level. Then, each teacher should use processes - curriculum materials and teaching methods - that have been proven to produce the specific learning needed by that type of student. PR Contact: Jessica Edreich 617-227-0012 ext. 229 [e-mail]

Larry Freedman is the current Headmaster for the David Posnack Hebrew Day School, which was voted the "Best" Jewish Day School in Broward County. He has been involved in the field of education for over 45 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent of public schools in Michigan. He has been a speaker at several conferences and workshops across the nation and has written many articles about educational programs. He has also been recognized and awarded numerous times on his contributions to education. PR Contact: Sasha Keyne 954-322-0004 [e-mail]

Professor Emilie Johnson, of Lindenwood University, is an expert in the field of education with an emphasis in educational administration. She received her PhD from St. Louis University in 1997 after conducting research on teachers' reactions to the change process. She currently teaches both graduate and undergraduate classes in education with an emphasis in educational psychology and human development. She also has 13 years of experience in the public schools as a classroom teacher, elementary assistant principal, and teacher trainer. 636-949-4963

ExpertSource cannot guarantee the immediate availability of these experts or their familiarity with this specific issue.

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