The Division of Teacher and leader Quality impacts student achievement by providing programs and resources to enhance teacher and leader quality that include the following: Title II, Part A grant awards; CLASS Keys and Leader Keys evaluation systems; National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; and professional learning.

In the spring of 2009, the Division of Teacher Quality combined with Leader Quality to become the Division of Teacher and Leader Quality. The goal of the division is to promote and support teacher and leader effectiveness to improve student learning in every classroom in the state.

• Manages effective use of Title II, Part A funds at the state and local level that are specifically targeted for use to meet the highly qualified teacher requirements of No Child Left Behind.
• Provides an incentive for professional excellence and teacher retention through the National Board for Professional Teacher Standards (NBPTS) certification and provide a supplement for National Board Certified Teachers in Georgia.
• Promotes effective use of professional development funds and activities to support school improvement.
• Maintains current data regarding teacher shortage areas.
• Implements the CLASS (Classroom Analysis of School Standards) Keys – Georgia’s new teacher evaluation process. The following strands are the basis for the standards, elements, and rubrics.
• Curriculum and Planning
• Standards-Based Instruction
• Assessment of Student Learning
• Professionalism
• Student Achievement
• Teacher Induction Task Force
• Identifies a Georgia model for induction and creates induction standards.
• Georgia Department of Education and Board of Regents Pre-service Field Study partnership
• Conducts a pre-service field study of the CLASS Keys new teacher evaluation system with a small number (8) of Georgia’s colleges and universities.

• Leader Keys Field Study
• Designs and conducts a field study of a new leader evaluation process to improve the quality and effectiveness of principals/administrators. The ten strands are the basis for the standards, elements, and rubrics.
• Curriculum
• Assessment
• Standards-Based Instruction
• Data Analysis
• Organizational Culture
• Professional Learning and Development
• Performance Management and Process Improvement
• Managing Operations
• Leading Change
• Relationship Development

• Provides leadership, technical assistance, resources, and consultative services to the Georgia education community in order to improve student learning through organizational development and professional learning (staff development).
• Professional Learning Unit Credits (PLUs)
• Application and Credit Program Approval (Comprehensive Plan for PLU Credit)