The teacher education profession needs to become more politically active. Because policy initiatives affect teacher education in very significant ways, it is important for teacher education professionals to mobilize the profession by providing expertise and leadership in the field. Recommendations for informing legislators and policymakers are…

Argues for a vision of teaching that recognizes the moral imperative to educate all students to their full potential guided by principles and standards of practice. Examines the purpose of schooling, standards-based practice, capacity-enhancing professional standards, and standards and values, explaining that teacher educators must prepare skilled…

Introduces an issue devoted to teaching portfolios in teacher education. The articles present initial research and reflections on the use of portfolios and share lessons learned through practice. They address such issues as the purposes of portfolios in teacher education; portfolio organization, management, and evaluation; and strengths and…

Suggests that conversations about portfolio entries offer the best opportunity to grow, learn, and enhance teaching expertise as teachers develop from beginners to experts. Portfolios have emerged as an alternative form of assessment well-suited for formative and summative assessment of self and others and for elevating the dialog about teaching…

Defines action research and presents case construction as one form of research well suited to classroom investigations. Cases developed by beginning teachers are introduced, and the context for development and discussion of cases is presented. Cases themselves are analyzed to expand the knowledge about the beginning teaching experience. (SM)

Describes California's efforts to examine and shape beginning teacher induction policies in the California New Teacher Project and its successor, the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program. Key research findings related to support and assessment and the emerging policy directions resulting from this work are presented. (SM)