Spread the word! NCTQ is now issuing a call for proposals for our second biennial national research competition.

We started this competition last year in order to increase our knowledge of the impact on teacher quality and student achievement from collective bargaining agreements, school board policies and state laws. Entrants can draw upon NCTQ's TR3 database, but its use is not a prerequisite.

We are particularly interested in attracting new talent--graduate students and non-tenured faculty--but anyone can enter. A jury will award up to 12 semi-finalists $5,000 to develop their proposals into full papers due in January 2011. Finalists will then be selected to receive an all-expense paid trip to D.C. to present their papers, with the winner receiving $10,000, with all other finalists receiving $1,000-$5,000. In addition, NCTQ and jury members will endorse the papers for publication in leading academic journals.

The 2009 jury included Jane Hannaway, Eric Hanushek, Susan Moore Johnson and Michael Podgursky. Most finalists' papers are in the publication process.

Proposals should be between three to five pages. For questions, contact Trish Madden at tmadden@nctq.org or 202-393-0020 x117 or look to our website here. Proposals are due at 5pm EST, June 1, 2010.