Teacher Supply & Quality: The Changing Role of Community Colleges

States working to develop comprehensive systems for addressing teacher workforce demands, including the renewed emphasis on teacher quality under No Child Left Behind, must be creative — looking not only at traditional teacher preparation systems, but at alternative options as well. Emerging as one of the more promising of these options are community colleges, many of which have already moved into some aspect of teacher preparation and support. This brief explains why many believe these two-year institutions are logical candidates for the role; provides examples of how states, community colleges, and traditional four-year institutions are working together in this endeavor; and offers related policy guidance.