The Senate Education Committee is moving faster than the House in the NCLB reauthorization process, meaning that they held their second hearing today, while the House has not begun their hearings. For bettors on the NCLB reauthorization date, I think this slows things down considerably. The House is more likely to move a bill, but not if they don’t begin the process. The Senate moves slowly even when three presidential contenders are not on the education committee.                

Back to today’s hearing. The topic was attracting and retaining teachers, and there were nine witnesses, so maybe it was supposed to be a two-day hearing. Sprinkled in with the usual all stars were a couple of teachers. Here are the three things that Pam Burnett of Lake County, Florida, named as having been effective in attracting and retaining qualified educators in her community:

• a Teaching Center;
• National Board support system; and
• regular professional development.

And what are the top two supports that make a difference to educators in Ms. Burnett’s community? Working conditions and strong school leadership.

Read the full testimony here.