Welcome to Our Special Edition
By Catherine Capellaro
Everybody says they want "teacher quality" but they don't all mean the same thing. In this issue of Rethinking Schools we we present a variety of voices and opinions, and take a hard look at what teacher quality really is..

Getting to the Heart of Teaching
By The Editors of Rethinking Schools
Catchy slogans, top-down mandates and shallow reforms won't improve teacher quality. Real progress will only happen if teachers, parents, teacher unions and school and community leaders all play a role.

Teacher Organizers Take Quality into Their Own Hands
By The Editors of Rethinking Schools
Details on teacher-quality initiatives taking root around the country.

Transforming Teacher Education
By Barbara Miner
UCLA's Center Xsets out to help Los Angeles' struggling schools.

An Interview with Deborah Meier
By Catherine Capellaro
The visionary school reformer discusses quality teaching, race and class, and the shortcomings of No Child Left Behind.

There's a lot more inside this issue.