Budgeting for Teacher Training

Re: “More Class Time, More Learning,” editorial, Aug. 23.

Current educational research has found that every additional dollar spent on raising teacher quality netted greater gains in student achievement than did any other use of school resources.

This year’s state budget has allocated $25 billion for public schools and community colleges including $195 million to extend the school year to 180 days of instruction. What is sorely lacking is a similar large-scale expenditure for teacher training.

The need for more professional development is greatly magnified due to the increase in the large number of beginning teachers brought about by class-size reduction. A teacher confronting 20 students for 180 days of instruction is not going to improve student learning unless he or she is a knowledgeable, skilled professional.

Our most treasured national resource is our children and no other profession is more important than teaching. To assure that young people get a world-class education, schools must invest heavily in effective, ongoing teacher training.

TIM STEPHENS, Westlake Village