Teachers' responsibility to improve students' writing entails changes in the teacher, the students, and the school. First, commitment to improvement requires the attainment of new knowledge on the teachers' part. They must be familiar with current research on the writing process and with how to translate that research into classroom practice. Second, a commitment to improvement requires a change in the way teachers work with students. Teachers must attempt to enhance the students' language base in every possible way. They must do all in their power to guarantee that the students' experience in school is one in which the students have an opportunity to use language, raise questions, listen, read, and witness adults writing. Students must receive direct instruction in writing, and be required to read the same types of discourse that they are requested to write. Students must also gain from evaluation. Third, commitment to improvement requires that schools implement quality writing programs that are based on current theory and research in writing. These programs would provide subject matter in many forms for writing experiences, and would involve a curriculum wide emphasis on writing instruction. (HTH)