TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A national publication has awarded Florida an overall grade of “B,” highest in the nation, in its biennial report.

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook released the report on Wednesday.

The "B" grade is up from a grade of “C” in 2009. The state also received high marks for making progress in policies and practices that govern the teaching profession.

“Ranking first in the nation is a tribute to our teachers and clear evidence of their commitment to continuous improvement when it comes to providing opportunities for high-quality education for our students,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson.

“School districts from Miami-Dade to Hillsborough to the panhandle are truly leading the nation. I congratulate Florida’s teachers and commend the successful leadership practices that are a catalyst for local change. I am confident we will continue to improve because of the courage and dedication of our educators to their students and their profession.”

Commissioner Robinson added that this significant recognition demonstrates statewide collaboration with teachers, superintendents, and education stakeholders as they work together to assure the best education for students.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook includes NCTQ’s biennial, full review of Florida’s laws, rules and regulations that govern the teaching profession. This year’s report measures Florida’s progress against a set of 36 policy goals focused on helping states put in place a comprehensive framework in support of preparing, retaining and rewarding effective teachers. For the first time, the Yearbook includes a progress rating on goals that have been measured over time.

The 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook awards state grades in five individual categories. Florida boosted its grade in four out of five categories since 2009.

• Delivering Well Prepared Teachers – “B-” (up from “C” in 2009)
• Expanding the Teaching Pool – “B-”
• Identifying Effective Teachers – “B” (up from “C-” in 2009)
• Retaining Effective Teachers – “B-” (up from “C” in 2009)
• Exiting Ineffective Teachers – “B+” (up from “C” in 2009)

To view Florida’s 2011 State Teacher Policy Yearbook, click here!