Reserve Teacher Corps Evaluation

The Reserve Teacher Corps (RTC) was an innovative effort to address the critical shortage of high-quality substitute teachers in urban and rural schools funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation. NIWL evaluated the final design and early implementation phases of the RTC. The goal of RTC was to provide high-quality substitute teachers who "make every day in the classroom count" and contribute to student learning. The evaluation focused on the major components of the RTC—engagement of the district‚ recruitment‚ training‚ and placement of the reservists‚ and professional development and support for the reservists. Initial evaluation of the RTC’s pre-pilot phase found that the RTC made a short-lived but meaningful difference in the two districts where it was being implemented. Problems associated with recruitment‚ training‚ and professional development‚ however‚ would be difficult and costly to overcome.