The themes of teacher autonomy, practical experience, and program rigor are manifest explicitly and implicitly throughout these papers prepared for the National Commission for Excellence in Teacher Education. Both the problems and resolution approaches presented under each theme suggest what can and must occur in teacher education to enhance the professional status of teachers. The commission papers in this volume are: (1) "The Schools and Preservice Education: Expectations and Reasonable Solutions" (Gene E. Hall, Walter Doyle, James V. Hoffman); (2) "Recruitment, Selection, Retention and Graduation of Teacher Education Students" (Henrietta Schwartz); (3) "Teacher Education: An All-University Responsibility" (Linda B. Jones); (4) "Restructuring Teacher Education: The University of New Hampshire's Five-Year Program" (Michael C. Andrew); (5) "The University of Kansas Extended Teacher Education Program" (Dale Scannell); (6) "Teacher Education Reform in Tennessee" (Robert T. Saunders); (7) "The Florida Beginning Teacher Program" (David C. Smith, Garfield W. Wilson); (8) "Crossing the Bridges: The First Years of Teaching" (Gary A. Griffin); (9) "The Next Generation of Teacher Preparation Programs" (Kenneth R. Howey); and (10) "Guiding Images for Teaching and Teacher Education" (Hendrik D. Gideonse). (JD)