The following papers were presented as testimony to the National Commission on Excellence in Teacher Education open hearing: (1) "Effective In-Service Training" (Harold Finkelstein); and (2) "The State's Responsibilities for Teacher Education: Some Views" (Edward M. Wolpert). The first paper discusses the current state of teaching, namely: (1) that students are not interested, challenged, or knowledgeable--they are not learning, and (2) that teachers are using outdated methods and are not able to compete for their students' attention--they are not effective. An in-service training model designed to improve classroom instruction and student learning is described and recommendations are made regarding incorporation of the model's components in pre-service training programs. The second paper presents some ideas about how states and teacher educators can work together: (1) State Departments of Education need to work closely with schools, colleges, departments of education (SCDE); (2) States must help SCDEs attract better students to teacher education programs; and (3) States need to reconceptualize what teaching and teacher education are all about. (CB)