When the No Child Left Behind Act passed in 2001, schools began facing enormous pressure to ensure that their test scores measured up. Schools that fall behind can face real consequences. A recent study speaks to the unintended consequences of this pressure to perform well on tests; demonstrating that the majority of teachers deemed less effective in terms of test scores were moved out of the tested grades. This pattern is stronger in schools where the principal has more influence on where teachers are assigned. On the flip side, teachers in lower-grade classrooms who have performed well are more likely to be bumped up to tested grades.

Systems that empower teachers also empower students. Teachers need our government to support them in their work to give students the best education possible. The current draft of the House FY18 Appropriations Bill fails our teachers and puts students at risk. The bill cuts funding for the Title II-A program, which supports teacher training.

About two years ago, Teaching Matters decided to couple professional development focusing on teacher leadership with a micro-credentialing plan that identifies, coaches, and rewards the kind of digestible chunks of knowledge and competence that are especially worthwhile. We made it our business to target the highest leverage skills in a prioritized and integrated way so that demonstrating these competencies is meaningful and substantial - and they can be recognized as the essentials that characterize a well-prepared teacher leader.

It's been said before: Teaching reading IS rocket science - or at least similarly difficult. We understand. Learning to read is both complex and crucial. So is teaching students how. Early Reading Matters is our initiative to transform reading instruction in high needs elementary schools. CNN’s Kelly Wallace recently spent the day visiting P.S.

This is the hour of "teacher leadership." It's one we don't want to waste.

Nationwide, the idea is gaining traction as a school improvement strategy. It's being endorsed by unions, ed reformers, front-line educators, researchers, and policymakers alike.