Inducting New Teachers in Illinois: Challenge and Response

Abstract

This article reports on efforts to improve beginning teachers' induction experiences across the state of Illinois. The authors focus on the role of the Illinois New Teacher Collaborative (INTC), which was created to promote new teacher induction in Illinois and to supply resources and support for new teachers and for those who support them. This article, which builds on Wilkins and Clift (2007), describes challenges facing Illinois state-funded induction programs and INTC's responses, including professional development opportunities and web-based resources and discussion forums. The authors make the case for induction programs and for state funding, and for the importance of having an independent entity to provide support for and to conduct research with the programs.

Acknowledgments

This material is based upon work supported by the College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, by the State Farm Companies Foundation, and by the Illinois State Board of Education. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funding agencies.

Notes

¹The Illinois Induction Program Standards are available online at http://intc.education.illinois.edu/page/Continuum.