&lt;DIV CLASS=&quot;basictext&quot;&gt;
For media inquiries, please contact:&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;TABLE CELLPADDING=&quot;0&quot; CELLSPACING=&quot;0&quot; BORDER=&quot;0&quot; ALIGN=&quot;center&quot;&gt;

&lt;TR&gt;
&lt;TD VALIGN=&quot;top&quot; ALIGN=&quot;left&quot; WIDTH=&quot;170&quot;&gt;&lt;DIV CLASS=&quot;basictext&quot;&gt;
Jana Rausch&lt;BR&gt;
310-570-4774&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;mailto:media@talentedteachers.org&quot;&gt;media@talentedteachers.org&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/DIV&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;TD WIDTH=&quot;30&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;TD VALIGN=&quot;top&quot; WIDTH=&quot;170&quot;&gt;&lt;DIV CLASS=&quot;basictext&quot;&gt;
Bonnie Somers&lt;BR&gt;
310-570-4770&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;mailto:media@talentedteachers.org&quot;&gt;media@talentedteachers.org&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/DIV&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;TABLE CELLPADDING=&quot;0&quot; CELLSPACING=&quot;0&quot; BORDER=&quot;0&quot;&gt;
&lt;TR&gt;
&lt;TD VALIGN=&quot;top&quot; ALIGN=&quot;left&quot; WIDTH=&quot;230&quot;&gt;&lt;DIV CLASS=&quot;basictext&quot;&gt;
&lt;B&gt;Press Releases&lt;/B&gt;&lt;P&gt;

3/28/08&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20080328&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Louisiana's Forest Hill Elementary Receives First $50,000 TAP Founder's Award&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

12/17/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20071217&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;President of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and
Former Dean of UCLA Graduate School of Education,
Dr. Lewis C. Solmon Leaves Legacy of Education Reform&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

8/1/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070801&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teacher Quality &quot;Guru&quot; Charlotte Danielson Joins NIET&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

7/23/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070723&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;NIET and Ten Other Teacher Quality Organizations Offer Roadmap to Successful Performance-Pay Programs&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

5/22/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070522&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Chicago Public Schools Announces First Cohort for 'R.E.A.L.' Program&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

1/31/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070131&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Teachers, Schools Demonstrate Higher Achievement Growth Than Controls&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

1/17/07&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070117fh&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Forest Hill Elementary Teachers Receive Bonuses for Student Achievement Growth&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

11/13/06&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20061113_tif 
&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Four Federal Teacher Incentive Fund Grants to Support Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

5/30/06&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20060530_algiers&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;New Orleans' Algiers Charters Join TAP to Help Strengthen Schools During Rebuild&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

5/8/06&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20060508_niet&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Foundation Grows To Become National Institute for Excellence in Teaching&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

4/21/06&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20060421_texastap&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Texas Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Expands to Six More Schools&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

2/24/06&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20060224_labonuses&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Student Achievement &quot;Pays Off&quot; for A.A. Nelson Teachers&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

12/20/05&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20051220_scbonuses&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teachers at Brunson-Dargan, West Hartsville Elementaries Receive Bonuses for Student Achievement Growth&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

12/2/05&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20051202_scbonuses&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teachers at Bell Street Middle, M.S. Bailey Receive Bonuses for Increasing Student Achievement Growth&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

9/27/05&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20050927_qcomp&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Minneapolis Teacher Advancement Program Schools Receive More Than $1.2 Million in Q-Comp Funding&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

8/25/05&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20050825_landrieu&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Observes TAP at Work at A.A. Nelson Elementary School&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

8/18/05&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20060818_broad&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teacher Advancement Program in Minneapolis Public Schools Receives Multi-Million Dollar Boost from the Broad Foundation&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

4/27/05&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;newsroom.taf?page=release_20050427_tapfndn&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Teacher Advancement Program Foundation Launched as Public 501(c)(3) Charity to Accelerate Teacher Quality Reform Through Public/Private Partnerships&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;P&gt;
&lt;/DIV&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;TD WIDTH=&quot;20&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;TD VALIGN=&quot;top&quot; ALIGN=&quot;left&quot; WIDTH=&quot;210&quot;&gt;&lt;DIV style=&quot;border:1px; border-style:solid;  border-color:#999999; padding-left:8px; padding-right:8px; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:8px;&quot;&gt;&lt;DIV CLASS=&quot;basictext&quot;&gt;
&lt;B&gt;NIET in the News&lt;/B&gt;&lt;P&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;
http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/index.php?item=2416&amp;cat=25&quot;&gt;Up Close: Westcott takes the plunge&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Catalyst Chicago&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
May/June 2008 edition&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.newsobserver.com/2810/story/1079933.html&quot;&gt; Teachers who stay will earn more pay&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;News and Observer&lt;/I&gt; (Raleigh, NC)&lt;BR&gt;
May 21, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.bfaa683e7841320fb85516f762108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_ws_MX&amp;javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_viewID=article_view&amp;javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_journalmoid=ba5fcdae25b99110VgnVCM1000003d01a8c0RCRD&amp;javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_articlemoid=b38fcdae25b99110VgnVCM1000003d01a8c0RCRD&amp;javax.portlet.begCacheTok=token&amp;javax.portlet.endCacheTok=token&quot;&gt;Rewarding Educators&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;ASCD Infobrief 53&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
Spring 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080501/ARTICLE/805010342/1004&amp;title=New_Hanover_considers_giving_bonuses_to_teachers_at_high_priority_schools&quot;&gt; New Hanover considers giving bonuses to teachers at high-priority schools&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Star-News&lt;/I&gt; (North Carolina)&lt;BR&gt;
May 2, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/WebModules/HostModaview.aspx?HostId=485&amp;ChannelId=5&amp;Flag=1&quot;&gt;&lt;IMG SRC=&quot;img/audio.gif&quot; HSPACE=&quot;3&quot; VSPACE=&quot;4&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; align=&quot;left&quot;&gt;&lt;/A&gt;&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/WebModules/HostModaview.aspx?HostId=485&amp;ChannelId=5&amp;Flag=1&quot; class=basiclink&gt;Hot Topics in Education: My Best Teacher Ever Was&#133;&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Scroll down to interview in Content Library)&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Voice America Radio&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
April 18, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/OPINION/804150342/1004/NEWS01&quot;&gt; Merit-based pay a much-needed educational initiative&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Greenville News&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
April 15, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.theeagle.com/local/Teachers-to-get-incentives&quot;&gt;Teachers to get incentives&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;The Eagle&lt;/I&gt; (Texas)&lt;BR&gt;
April 15, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713174,00.html&quot;&gt;How to Make Great Teachers&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;TIME Magazine&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
(Cover Story, February 25, 2008 issue)&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/03/classroom-is-key-to-closing-gap/&quot;&gt;Classroom is key to closing gap&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Knoxville News Sentinel&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
February 3, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/13/bonuses.ART_ART_01-13-08_B1_4T91SU0.html?sid=101&quot;&gt;Teachers' good work rewarded&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Columbus Dispatch&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
January 13, 2008&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/dec/28/program-passing-the-test/&quot;&gt;Program passing the test;&lt;BR&gt; 
School officials say teacher performance initiative is working&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Knoxville News-Sentinel&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
December 28, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.goupstate.com/article/20071130/NEWS/711300327/1051/NEWS01&quot;&gt;Cleveland Elementary teachers get pleasant surprise with bonus checks&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Spartanburg Herald-Journal&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Spartanburg, SC)&lt;BR&gt;
November 30, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/DN-central_brodaski_1123edi.ART.Central.Edition1.36a2d35.html#&gt;Measure growth&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Dallas Morning News&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
November 23, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/10/03/06pay.h27.html&quot;&gt;NCLB Debate Focuses Attention on Performance Pay for Teachers&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Education Week&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Paid registration required to read)&lt;BR&gt;
September 27, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701936.html?hpid=topnews&quot;&gt;Support Grows for Teacher Bonuses&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Washington Post&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
September 18, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;


&lt;A HREF=
&quot;http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/07/24/44pay_web.h26.html&quot;&gt;Teacher-Quality Groups Lay Out Compensation 'Essentials'&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Paid registration required to read)&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Education Week&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
July 24, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/07/09/2007-07-09_pay_for_performance_ready_for_its_closeu.html&quot;&gt;Pay for performance:&lt;BR&gt; 
ready for its closeup&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
By &lt;B&gt;&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/about.taf?page=nietbio_lsolmon&quot;&gt;Lewis C. Solmon&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;New York Daily News&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
July 9, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/education/18pay.html?_r=1&amp;hp&amp;oref=slogin&quot;&gt;Long Reviled, Merit Pay Gains Among Teachers&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
&lt;I&gt;New York Times&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
June 18, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;
http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=tifinthenews&quot;&gt;Read media coverage of TIF grants supporting TAP&lt;/A&gt;&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.kotatv.com/Global/story.asp?s=6345923&quot;&gt;TAP curriculum improves student learning levels&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
KOTA-TV (ABC)&lt;BR&gt;
(Sheridan, Wyoming)&lt;BR&gt;
April 9, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/issues/spring07/GetReal.htm&quot;&gt;Here's the Boost that Poor Children, Their Teachers, and Their Schools Really Need&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
&lt;I&gt;American Educator&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
Spring 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.metropulse.com/articles/2007/17_05/insights.shtml&quot;&gt;Editorial: TAPping More Knox Schools&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Metro Pulse&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Knoxville, Tennessee)&lt;BR&gt;
Feb 1, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.edweek.org//ew/articles/2007/01/31/22tap_web.h26.html&quot;&gt;Program That Expands Teachers' Roles Linked to Higher Student Achievement&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
(Paid registration required to read article)&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Education Week&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
January 31, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS01/701180318/1002&quot;&gt;Forest Hill teachers get 'big bucks'&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;The Town Talk&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
(Alexandria-Pineville, Louisiana)&lt;BR&gt;

January 18, 2007&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/news/opinion/16340824.htm&quot;&gt;Grant moves state in right direction on merit pay&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;The State&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
(Columbia, South Carolina)&lt;BR&gt;
December 29, 2006&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20061205/NEWS/61205001&quot;&gt;Local schools improve report cards; Eagle Elementary, Eagle Valley High both jump up one category&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Vail Daily&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt; 
December 5, 2006&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/index.php?item=2110&amp;cat=30&quot;&gt;Merit pay on drawing board for CPS&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
Catalyst Chicago&lt;BR&gt;
December 2006&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/11/15/12tif.h26.html&quot;&gt;Teacher-Incentive Plans Geared to Bonuses for Individuals&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

(Paid registration required to read article)&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Education Week&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
November 15, 2006&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=tapnews_ladnreprint&quot; class=&quot;basiclink&quot;&gt;Schools worthy of protests, too&lt;/A&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
By &lt;B&gt;&lt;A HREF=&quot;http://www.talentedteachers.org/about.taf?page=nietbio_lsolmon&quot;&gt;Lewis C. Solmon&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/B&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
&lt;I&gt;Daily News of Los Angeles&lt;/I&gt;&lt;BR&gt;
July 5, 2006&lt;P&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;CENTER&gt;&lt;A HREF=&quot;/newsroom.taf?page=nietinthenews&quot;&gt;Click here for more&lt;BR&gt;NIET in the News&lt;/A&gt;&lt;/CENTER&gt;
&lt;/DIV&gt;&lt;/DIV&gt;&lt;/TD&gt;
&lt;/TR&gt;&lt;/TABLE&gt;&lt;BR&gt;&lt;BR&gt;

&lt;/DIV&gt;

--><HTML><HEAD><META NAME="Title" CONTENT="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) - Improving Teacher Quality, Increasing Student Achievement"><META NAME="description" CONTENT="The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) was established to ensure a highly skilled teacher for every classroom in America."><META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="TAP; teacher; accountability; career; ladder; education; achievement; school; reform; quality; qualified; mentor; merit; pay; incentive; compensation; path; salary; teach; retention; performance; professional; development; student; achievement; NCLB; data; gain; gap; growth; turnover; standard; master; comprehensive; plan; salaries; alternative; certification; advancement; program; assessment; best; practice; high school; instruction; scientific; research; talented; preparation; test; score; training; value-added; model; profession; bonus; recruitment; evaluation;  learn ; instruction; support"><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"><META NAME="rating" CONTENT="General"><META NAME="revisit-after" CONTENT="30 days"><META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="INDEX,FOLLOW"><SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="javascript" SRC="http://www.talentedteachers.org/lytebox.js"></SCRIPT><LINK REL="stylesheet" HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/lytebox.css" TYPE="text/css" MEDIA="screen" /><TITLE>National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) - Improving Teacher Quality, Increasing Student Achievement</TITLE><SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript">	function changeStackOrder()	{	document.getElementById("img1").style.zIndex="1";	}</SCRIPT><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript">function popup() {pop=window.open("video.html","pop","scrollbars=no,toolbar=no,location=no,directories=no,status=no,menubar=no,resizable=no,width=700,height=290");pop.document.close();pop.focus();}</SCRIPT><SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!--function HideContent(d) {if(d.length < 1) { return; }document.getElementById(d).style.display = "none";}function ShowContent(d) {if(d.length < 1) { return; }document.getElementById(d).style.display = "block";}//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT><!--function clearForm() {	document.gs.q.value = "";}//--></SCRIPT><STYLE TYPE="text/css">div.scroll {	height: 200px;	width: 300px;	border:solid;	border-width:1px;	border-color:#999999;	color:000000;	padding:5 10 5 5px;	overflow: auto;	font-family:verdana,geneva;	font-size:11px;	line-height:16px;	scrollbar-3dlight-color:#f0f0f0;	scrollbar-arrow-color:#000000;	scrollbar-base-color:#ffffcc;	scrollbar-darkshadow-color:#666666;	scrollbar-face-color:#ffffff;	scrollbar-highlight-color:#aaaaaa;	scrollbar-shadow-color:#999999;}div.scroll2 {	height: 200px;	width: 450px;	border:solid;	border-width:1px;	border-color:#999999;	color:000000;	padding:5 10 5 5px;	overflow: auto;	font-family:verdana,geneva;	font-size:11px;	line-height:16px;	scrollbar-3dlight-color:#f0f0f0;	scrollbar-arrow-color:#000000;	scrollbar-base-color:#ffffcc;	scrollbar-darkshadow-color:#666666;	scrollbar-face-color:#ffffff;	scrollbar-highlight-color:#aaaaaa;	scrollbar-shadow-color:#999999;}.sidebar       {font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px; padding-left:6px; width:150; height:21;}.sidebarMulti  {font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px; padding-left:6px; width:150; height:40;}.sidebar2       {font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px; padding-left:20px; width:150; height:21;}.sidebarSpacer {width:150; height:8;}</STYLE><LINK REL="stylesheet" TYPE="TEXT/CSS" HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/main.css"><SCRIPT SRC="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" TYPE="text/javascript"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript">_uacct = "UA-2146008-4";urchinTracker();</SCRIPT></HEAD><BODY onLoad="cswmMenuBarInit()" onResize="cswmRefresh()" TOPMARGIN="6" LEFTMARGIN="0" MARGINHEIGHT="6" MARGINWIDTH="0" BACKGROUND="img/background.gif"><CENTER><!-- Outer Table to Center Content --><TABLE WIDTH="890" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0"><TR VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><TD><!-- Header Table --><TABLE WIDTH="890" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" border="0">	<TR>		<TD COLSPAN="6"><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org"><IMG SRC="img/top_header.gif" WIDTH="887" HEIGHT="25" ALT="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching" BORDER="0" VSPACE="0" HSPACE="0"></A></TD></TR>	<TR VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">		<TD WIDTH="57"><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org"><IMG SRC="img/logo_middle.gif" WIDTH="57" HEIGHT="33" ALT="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching" BORDER="0" VSPACE="0" HSPACE="0"></A></TD>		<TD WIDTH="410" BACKGROUND="img/top_gradient.gif"><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org"><IMG SRC="img/niet_header.gif" WIDTH="408" HEIGHT="33" ALT="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching" BORDER="0" VSPACE="0" HSPACE="0"></A></TD>        <TD width="141" BACKGROUND="img/top_gradient.gif" valign="center" ALIGN="right"><A HREF="contact.taf"><IMG SRC="img/contact_us.gif" alt="Contact Us" title="Contact Us" border="0" vspace="7" hspace="5"></A></TD>        <TD WIDTH="280">        	<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="280" HEIGHT="33" BACKGROUND="img/top_gradient.gif">				<FORM method=GET ACTION="http://www.google.com/search" NAME="gs">				<TR VALIGN="center" ALIGN="right">                	<TD BACKGROUND="img/top_gradient.gif">					<!-- Google SafeSearch  -->					<INPUT type=hidden name=ie value=UTF-8>					<INPUT type=hidden name=oe value=UTF-8>					<INPUT type=hidden name=safe value=strict>					<INPUT type=hidden name=domains VALUE="www.talentedteachers.org">					<INPUT type=hidden name=sitesearch VALUE="www.talentedteachers.org">					<INPUT STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:11px; line-height:12px; width:180px;" TYPE="text" NAME="q" VALUE="Search Powered by Google" onFocus="clearForm()"></TD>					<TD VALIGN="center" ALIGN="left" STYLE="padding-left:10px;">						<IMG SRC="img/find.gif" WIDTH="44" HEIGHT="17" ALT="Find"></TD></TR></FORM></TABLE>		</TD>		<TD WIDTH="4"><IMG SRC="img/right.gif" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="33" ALT=""></TD>		<TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" ALT=""></TD>	</TR>	<TR>		<TD><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org"><IMG SRC="img/logo_bottom.gif" WIDTH="57" HEIGHT="30" ALT="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching" BORDER="0" VSPACE="0" HSPACE="0"></A></TD>		<TD COLSPAN="3" BGCOLOR="ffffff"><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="javascript" TYPE="text/javascript" SRC="http://www.talentedteachers.org/compile/loader.js"></SCRIPT></TD>		<TD WIDTH="4"><IMG SRC="img/nav_right_line.gif" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="30" ALT=""></TD>		<TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" ALT=""></TD>    </TR><TR><TD COLSPAN="5"><IMG SRC="img/middle_line.jpg" ALT="" WIDTH="888" HEIGHT="6" BORDER="0"></TD><TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" ALT=""></TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE WIDTH="890" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BGCOLOR="ffffff"><TR><TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD><!-- Main content begins -->
 
<TD VALIGN="TOP" ALIGN="LEFT" width="150" background="img/left_sidebar_background.gif">


<TABLE width="150" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0">
<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>



			
<TR><TD class="sidebar" valign="center" align="left" background="img/nav_sidebar_single.gif">
<A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=newsroom" class="sidenav">Main Page</A></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebar" valign="center" align="left">
<A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=releases" class="sidenav">Press Releases</A></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebar" valign="center" align="left">
<A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=nietinthenews" class="sidenav">NIET in the News</A></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebar" valign="center" align="left">
<A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=webarticles" class="sidenav">Web Articles</A></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebar" valign="center" align="left">
<A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=faqs" class="sidenav">FAQs</A></TD></TR>

<TR><TD class="sidebarSpacer"></TD></TR>

</TABLE>
</TD>


<!-- End of Sidebar -->
			<!-- Main content STARTS -->


<TD width="538" valign="top" align="center"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" alt="" HEIGHT="4" width="538"><BR>
<TABLE width="510"><tr><td>
<DIV CLASS="basictext">					
<DIV CLASS="titles"><B>Newsroom</B></DIV>
<DIV CLASS="basictext">

<DIV CLASS="basictext">
For media inquiries, please contact:<BR>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left" WIDTH="170"><DIV CLASS="basictext">
Jana Rausch<BR>
310-570-4774<BR>
<A HREF="mailto:media@talentedteachers.org">media@talentedteachers.org</A></DIV></TD>
<TD WIDTH="30">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" WIDTH="170"><DIV CLASS="basictext">
Bonnie Somers<BR>
310-570-4770<BR>
<A HREF="mailto:media@talentedteachers.org">media@talentedteachers.org</A></DIV></TD>
</TR></TABLE><BR>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" BORDER="0">
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left" WIDTH="230"><DIV CLASS="basictext">
<B>Press Releases</B><P>

3/28/08<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20080328" class="basiclink">Louisiana's Forest Hill Elementary Receives First $50,000 TAP Founder's Award</A><P><BR>

12/17/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20071217" class="basiclink">President of the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching and
Former Dean of UCLA Graduate School of Education,
Dr. Lewis C. Solmon Leaves Legacy of Education Reform</A><P><BR>

8/1/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070801" class="basiclink">Teacher Quality "Guru" Charlotte Danielson Joins NIET</A><P><BR>

7/23/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070723" class="basiclink">NIET and Ten Other Teacher Quality Organizations Offer Roadmap to Successful Performance-Pay Programs</A><P><BR>

5/22/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070522" class="basiclink">Chicago Public Schools Announces First Cohort for 'R.E.A.L.' Program</A><P><BR>

1/31/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070131" class="basiclink">Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Teachers, Schools Demonstrate Higher Achievement Growth Than Controls</A><P><BR>

1/17/07<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20070117fh" class="basiclink">Forest Hill Elementary Teachers Receive Bonuses for Student Achievement Growth</A><P><BR>

11/13/06<BR>
<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=release_20061113_tif 
" class="basiclink">Four Federal Teacher Incentive Fund Grants to Support Teacher Advancement Program (TAP)</A><P><BR>

5/30/06<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20060530_algiers" class="basiclink">New Orleans' Algiers Charters Join TAP to Help Strengthen Schools During Rebuild</A><P><BR>

5/8/06<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20060508_niet" class="basiclink">Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Foundation Grows To Become National Institute for Excellence in Teaching</A><P><BR>

4/21/06<BR>

<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20060421_texastap" class="basiclink">Texas Teacher Advancement Program (TAP) Expands to Six More Schools</A><P><BR>

2/24/06<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20060224_labonuses" class="basiclink">Student Achievement "Pays Off" for A.A. Nelson Teachers</A><P><BR>

12/20/05<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20051220_scbonuses" class="basiclink">Teachers at Brunson-Dargan, West Hartsville Elementaries Receive Bonuses for Student Achievement Growth</A><P><BR>

12/2/05<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20051202_scbonuses" class="basiclink">Teachers at Bell Street Middle, M.S. Bailey Receive Bonuses for Increasing Student Achievement Growth</A><P><BR>

9/27/05<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20050927_qcomp" class="basiclink">Minneapolis Teacher Advancement Program Schools Receive More Than $1.2 Million in Q-Comp Funding</A><P><BR>

8/25/05<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20050825_landrieu" class="basiclink">U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu Observes TAP at Work at A.A. Nelson Elementary School</A><P><BR>

8/18/05<BR>
<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20060818_broad" class="basiclink">Teacher Advancement Program in Minneapolis Public Schools Receives Multi-Million Dollar Boost from the Broad Foundation</A><P><BR>

4/27/05<BR>

<A HREF="newsroom.taf?page=release_20050427_tapfndn" class="basiclink">Teacher Advancement Program Foundation Launched as Public 501(c)(3) Charity to Accelerate Teacher Quality Reform Through Public/Private Partnerships</A><P><BR><P>
</DIV></TD>
<TD WIDTH="20">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left" WIDTH="210"><DIV style="border:1px; border-style:solid;  border-color:#999999; padding-left:8px; padding-right:8px; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:8px;"><DIV CLASS="basictext">
<B>NIET in the News</B><P>


<A HREF="
http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/index.php?item=2416&cat=25">Up Close: Westcott takes the plunge</A><BR>
<I>Catalyst Chicago</I><BR>
May/June 2008 edition<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.newsobserver.com/2810/story/1079933.html"> Teachers who stay will earn more pay</A><BR>
<I>News and Observer</I> (Raleigh, NC)<BR>
May 21, 2008<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.bfaa683e7841320fb85516f762108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_viewID=article_view&javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_journalmoid=ba5fcdae25b99110VgnVCM1000003d01a8c0RCRD&javax.portlet.prp_818d37ec925d82800173fc1062108a0c_articlemoid=b38fcdae25b99110VgnVCM1000003d01a8c0RCRD&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=token&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=token">Rewarding Educators</A><BR>
<I>ASCD Infobrief 53</I><BR>
Spring 2008<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20080501/ARTICLE/805010342/1004&title=New_Hanover_considers_giving_bonuses_to_teachers_at_high_priority_schools"> New Hanover considers giving bonuses to teachers at high-priority schools</A><BR>
<I>Star-News</I> (North Carolina)<BR>
May 2, 2008<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/WebModules/HostModaview.aspx?HostId=485&ChannelId=5&Flag=1"><IMG SRC="img/audio.gif" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="4" border="0" align="left"></A><A HREF="http://www.modavox.com/voiceamericacms/WebModules/HostModaview.aspx?HostId=485&ChannelId=5&Flag=1" class=basiclink>Hot Topics in Education: My Best Teacher Ever Was&#133;</A><BR>
(Scroll down to interview in Content Library)<BR>
<I>Voice America Radio</I><BR>
April 18, 2008<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/OPINION/804150342/1004/NEWS01"> Merit-based pay a much-needed educational initiative</A><BR>
<I>Greenville News</I><BR>
April 15, 2008<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://www.theeagle.com/local/Teachers-to-get-incentives">Teachers to get incentives</A><BR>
<I>The Eagle</I> (Texas)<BR>
April 15, 2008<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1713174,00.html">How to Make Great Teachers</A><BR>
<I>TIME Magazine</I><BR> 
(Cover Story, February 25, 2008 issue)<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/feb/03/classroom-is-key-to-closing-gap/">Classroom is key to closing gap</A><BR>
<I>Knoxville News Sentinel</I><BR> 
February 3, 2008<P><BR> 

<A HREF="http://dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/13/bonuses.ART_ART_01-13-08_B1_4T91SU0.html?sid=101">Teachers' good work rewarded</A><BR>
<I>Columbus Dispatch</I><BR>
January 13, 2008<P><BR> 


<A HREF="http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/dec/28/program-passing-the-test/">Program passing the test;<BR> 
School officials say teacher performance initiative is working</A><BR>
<I>Knoxville News-Sentinel</I><BR>
December 28, 2007<P><BR> 

<A HREF="http://www.goupstate.com/article/20071130/NEWS/711300327/1051/NEWS01">Cleveland Elementary teachers get pleasant surprise with bonus checks</A><BR>
<I>Spartanburg Herald-Journal</I><BR>
(Spartanburg, SC)<BR>
November 30, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/collin/opinion/stories/DN-central_brodaski_1123edi.ART.Central.Edition1.36a2d35.html#>Measure growth</A><BR>
<I>Dallas Morning News</I><BR>
November 23, 2007<P><BR>


<A HREF="http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/10/03/06pay.h27.html">NCLB Debate Focuses Attention on Performance Pay for Teachers</A><BR>
<I>Education Week</I><BR>
(Paid registration required to read)<BR>
September 27, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701936.html?hpid=topnews">Support Grows for Teacher Bonuses</A><BR>
<I>Washington Post</I><BR>
September 18, 2007<P><BR>


<A HREF=
"http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/07/24/44pay_web.h26.html">Teacher-Quality Groups Lay Out Compensation 'Essentials'</A><BR>
(Paid registration required to read)<BR>
<I>Education Week</I><BR>
July 24, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/07/09/2007-07-09_pay_for_performance_ready_for_its_closeu.html">Pay for performance:<BR> 
ready for its closeup</A><BR>
By <B><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/about.taf?page=nietbio_lsolmon">Lewis C. Solmon</A></B><BR>
<I>New York Daily News</I><BR>
July 9, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/education/18pay.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin">Long Reviled, Merit Pay Gains Among Teachers</A><BR> 
<I>New York Times</I><BR>
June 18, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="
http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=tifinthenews">Read media coverage of TIF grants supporting TAP</A><P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.kotatv.com/Global/story.asp?s=6345923">TAP curriculum improves student learning levels</A><BR>
KOTA-TV (ABC)<BR>
(Sheridan, Wyoming)<BR>
April 9, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.aft.org/pubs-reports/american_educator/issues/spring07/GetReal.htm">Here's the Boost that Poor Children, Their Teachers, and Their Schools Really Need</A><BR> 
<I>American Educator</I><BR>
Spring 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.metropulse.com/articles/2007/17_05/insights.shtml">Editorial: TAPping More Knox Schools</A><BR>
<I>Metro Pulse</I><BR>
(Knoxville, Tennessee)<BR>
Feb 1, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.edweek.org//ew/articles/2007/01/31/22tap_web.h26.html">Program That Expands Teachers' Roles Linked to Higher Student Achievement</A><BR>
(Paid registration required to read article)<BR>
<I>Education Week</I><BR>
January 31, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.thetowntalk.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS01/701180318/1002">Forest Hill teachers get 'big bucks'</A><BR>
<I>The Town Talk</I><BR> 
(Alexandria-Pineville, Louisiana)<BR>

January 18, 2007<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.thestate.com/mld/state/news/opinion/16340824.htm">Grant moves state in right direction on merit pay</A><BR>
<I>The State</I><BR> 
(Columbia, South Carolina)<BR>
December 29, 2006<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20061205/NEWS/61205001">Local schools improve report cards; Eagle Elementary, Eagle Valley High both jump up one category</A><BR>
<I>Vail Daily</I><BR> 
December 5, 2006<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.catalyst-chicago.org/news/index.php?item=2110&cat=30">Merit pay on drawing board for CPS</A><BR>
Catalyst Chicago<BR>
December 2006<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2006/11/15/12tif.h26.html">Teacher-Incentive Plans Geared to Bonuses for Individuals</A><BR>

(Paid registration required to read article)<BR>
<I>Education Week</I><BR>
November 15, 2006<P><BR>

<A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/newsroom.taf?page=tapnews_ladnreprint" class="basiclink">Schools worthy of protests, too</A><BR>
By <B><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/about.taf?page=nietbio_lsolmon">Lewis C. Solmon</A></B><BR>
<I>Daily News of Los Angeles</I><BR>
July 5, 2006<P><BR>

<CENTER><A HREF="/newsroom.taf?page=nietinthenews">Click here for more<BR>NIET in the News</A></CENTER>
</DIV></DIV></TD>
</TR></TABLE><BR><BR>

</DIV>
	
</DIV>
</TD></TR></TABLE>

</TD>

<!-- End of Main Content --><!-- Gray line --><TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#CCCCCC"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD><!-- Sidebar --><TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left" WIDTH="197" BACKGROUND="img/right_sidebar_background.gif"><TABLE width="197" background="img/donate_background.gif"><TR><TD valign="center" align="center"><!-- Join Today Image --><SCRIPT language="javascript">// random display script //var jointoday = new Array();var index,result;index = Math.random();index = index*100;index = Math.round(index);index %= 18;jointoday[0] ='img/join01.gif';jointoday[1] ='img/join02.gif';jointoday[2] ='img/join03.gif';jointoday[3] ='img/join04.gif';jointoday[4] ='img/join06.gif';jointoday[5] ='img/join07.gif';jointoday[6] ='img/join08.gif';jointoday[7] ='img/join09.gif';jointoday[8] ='img/join10.gif';jointoday[9] ='img/join11.gif';jointoday[10] ='img/join12.gif';jointoday[11] ='img/join13.gif';jointoday[12] ='img/join14.gif';jointoday[13] ='img/join15.gif';jointoday[14] ='img/join16.gif';jointoday[15] ='img/join18.gif';jointoday[16] ='img/join19.gif';jointoday[17] ='img/join20.gif';document.write("<A HREF=jointap.taf><IMG SRC=" + jointoday[index] + " alt=Join Today width=168 height=75 hspace=0 vspace=10 border=0></A>");</SCRIPT></TD></TR></TABLE><P ALIGN="center"><!-- Video here --><IMG SRC="img/header_videotap.gif" ALT="Video: Understanding TAP" width="163" height="17" border="0"><BR><!--<SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript" SRC="swfobject.js"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT TYPE="text/javascript">	var browser = ((navigator.appName == "Microsoft Internet Explorer"));	if (browser) {		var tapVideo = new SWFObject("http://www.talentedteachers.org/tap_video2.swf", "mymovie", "320", "260", "8", "#000000");   		document.write ("<DIV STYLE='position:absolute; width:175; height:115;'>");		document.write ("<DIV ID='tapVideo' style='position: absolute; top: 5px; left: -135px; right:100px; visibility: visible; z-index: 99999; text-align: left; clip: rect(auto, auto, auto, auto); height: 281px; width: 381px;'>");		tapVideo.addParam("quality", "high");   		tapVideo.addParam("wmode", "transparent");   		tapVideo.write("tapVideo");		document.write ("</DIV></DIV>");		document.write ("<IMG SRC='img/blank.gif' alt='' width='1' height='150'>");		} else {			document.write ("  -->  <A HREF='javascript:popup()'><IMG SRC='img/tap_video.jpg' alt='' border='0'></A> <!-- ");			}</SCRIPT> --><BR><!-- End Video here --><HR NOSHADE SIZE="1" COLOR="cccccc"><P ALIGN="center"><BR><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/tap.taf"><IMG SRC="img/header_tap.gif" ALT="Teacher Advancement Program" BORDER="0" WIDTH="184" HEIGHT="15"></A><P><!-- TAP --><TABLE CELLSPACING="8" STYLE="padding-left:10px;"><TR><TD COLSPAN="2"><A HREF="tap.taf?page=fourelements"><IMG SRC="img/header_tap_four_elements.gif" ALT="Four Elements of TAP" WIDTH="104" HEIGHT="11" BORDER="0"></A></TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="8" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><IMG SRC="img/tap_bullet.gif" ALT="Bulletpoint" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" VSPACE="7"></TD><TD STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px;"><A HREF="tap.taf?page=element1">Multiple Career Paths</A></TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="8" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><IMG SRC="img/tap_bullet.gif" ALT="Bulletpoint" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" VSPACE="7"></TD><TD STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px;"><A HREF="tap.taf?page=element2">Ongoing Applied<BR>Professional Growth</A></TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="8" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><IMG SRC="img/tap_bullet.gif" ALT="Bulletpoint" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" VSPACE="7"></TD><TD STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px;"><A HREF="tap.taf?page=element3">Instructionally Focused<BR>Accountability</A></TD></TR><TR><TD WIDTH="8" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><IMG SRC="img/tap_bullet.gif" ALT="Bulletpoint" WIDTH="4" HEIGHT="4" BORDER="0" VSPACE="7"></TD><TD STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:10px; line-height:14px;"><A HREF="tap.taf?page=element4">Performance-Based<BR>Compensation</A></TD></TR></TABLE><HR NOSHADE SIZE="1" COLOR="cccccc"><P ALIGN="center"><BR><A HREF="http://www.talentedteachers.org/center.taf"><IMG SRC="img/best_practices_side.gif" ALT="Best Practices Center" width="167" height="64" border="0"></A><HR NOSHADE SIZE="1" COLOR="cccccc"><P ALIGN="center"><BR><TABLE CELLSPACING="8" STYLE="padding-left:6px;"><TR><TD><IMG SRC="img/header_whatpeoplesaying.gif" ALT="What People are Saying About TAP" width="150" height="35" border="0"><P><DIV class="saying"><b>Tim Pawlenty, Governor of Minnesota</b> <br>"...I authored a statewide reform, based on the Milken Teacher Advancement Program, to rightfully reward our best and brightest in the profession for increasing student achievement..."<BR><BR><A HREF="/tap.taf?page=quotes#tpawlenty">Click here to read more</A></DIV></TD></TR></TABLE><P></TD><TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD><TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" ALT=""></TD></TR></TABLE><!-- Close Main Table --></td></tr></table> <!-- Footer --><TABLE WIDTH="890" CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BGCOLOR="ffffff"><TR><TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD>	<TD BGCOLOR="#cccccc"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD>	<TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD>	<TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" height="1" ALT=""></TD></TR>	<TR><TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD>	<TD WIDTH="886" bgcolor="ffffff" valign="center"><TABLE><TR valign="bottom" align="left"><TD width="395" STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:9px; line-height:14px;">&nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="mailto:webmaster@talentedteachers.org">E-mail the Webmaster</A>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<A HREF="about.taf?page=privacy">Privacy Policy</A><BR>&nbsp;&nbsp;&copy; 2008. All rights reserved. National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.</TD><TD width="60"><img src="img/niet_footer.gif" alt="National Institute for Excellence in Teaching" width="60" height="55" border="0" vspace="4"></TD><TD width="426" STYLE="font-family:verdana,geneva; font-size:9px; line-height:14px; color:999999;"><P align="right">External sites not endorsed by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD></TR></TABLE></TD>	<TD WIDTH="1" BGCOLOR="#000000"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="1" HEIGHT="1" ALT=""></TD>	<TD WIDTH="2" BACKGROUND="img/dropshadow_background.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="2" ALT=""></TD></TR></TABLE><TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" BORDER="0" WIDTH="890"><TR><TD WIDTH="5"><IMG SRC="img/corner_bottom_left.gif" WIDTH="5" HEIGHT="7" BORDER="0" ALT=""></TD><TD WIDTH="878" BACKGROUND="img/bottom_line.gif"><IMG SRC="img/blank.gif" WIDTH="878" HEIGHT="7"></TD><TD WIDTH="7"><IMG SRC="img/corner_bottom_right.gif" WIDTH="7" HEIGHT="7" BORDER="0" ALT=""></TD></TR></TABLE></TD></TR></TABLE></CENTER></BODY></HTML>