The Connecticut State Department of Education developed the BEST program to enhance the quality of beginning teachers. The three year teacher induction program is an outgrowth of the Education Enhancement Act of 1986, which has been successful in attracting qualified educators to the state’s schools with its “balanced equation” of higher teacher salaries and increased professional standards.

Beginning teachers are supported by mentors and support teams, both school and district-based. Professional development is provided to beginning teachers through content-specific seminars that focus on standards-based teaching and learning and portfolio preparation. Experienced teachers have the opportunity to be trained as mentors and portfolio scorers.

To be eligible for the certification level beyond the initial certificate, the new teacher must demonstrate mastery of essential teaching competencies related to content knowledge, planning, instruction and assessment. These competencies are evaluated through a teaching portfolio submitted in the second year which includes lesson logs, videotapes of teaching, examples of student work and assessments, teacher commentaries and reflections.

Beverly Hartstone
Telephone: (860) 713-6811
Fax: (860) 713-7028

E-mail: Beverly.hartstone@po.state.ct.us
On the Web: http://www.ces.k12.ct.us/new/learningservices/beginningeducator/index.htm