The facts are clear: The higher the quality of the teacher, the greater a student's progress. To improve K–12 education, investing in teachers—and their continued development—is one of the best places to start.

Stanford is forging a model center for teacher professional development to help K–12 educators enrich their understanding of the subjects they teach and improve their mastery of strategies to engage all learners. The Center for the Support of Excellence in Teaching (CSET) will draw on both the deep expertise of faculty in our top-rated School of Education and the rich disciplinary knowledge that resides in the university as a whole.

Working with Stanford's distinguished faculty, teachers will be able to explore ideas at the forefront of specific subject areas, from biology and geometry to English literature and world history. They will also be able to investigate how children develop their understanding of such topics and receive the instructional guidance and sustained support they need to help all students learn to their highest potential.

CSET intends to reenergize K–12 teachers and renew their passion for the subjects they teach—and bring together the critical elements of professional development that have been proven to make a meaningful difference in the classroom. By integrating in-depth evaluation into of all of its work, the center will also contribute new knowledge about the effectiveness of various strategies for teacher learning and educational change.