Quality teaching is the single most important factor in students’ academic success. To ensure every Kentucky student has a high-quality teacher every year, the Chamber supports the formal review of the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs and the delivery of meaningful professional development programs to better meet the needs of classroom teachers. Policymakers must professionalize the teacher compensation system to reward excellence and provide incentives to attract educators to areas that are underserved, either geographically or by subject matter. This will allow Kentucky to recruit and retain the best and brightest professionals.