Riley Outlines Licensure Plan for Teachers

Washington

Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley urged states last week to consider adopting a common framework for teacher licensing, raising hopes that his support could lend new urgency to ongoing efforts to improve teacher quality.

In his sixth annual State of American Education Address, delivered Feb. 16 in Long Beach, Calif., Mr. Riley outlined what his department termed a "possible approach" to state licensure that would include "initial," "professional," and voluntary "advanced" licenses.

"This three-part approach ... seeks to strengthen teaching by linking it more closely to high standards. I ask you to consider it and join me in this national conversation," the secretary said, referring to...