Experienced teachers are the common factor among 156 California school districts where black and Hispanic students, as well as white students, are beating the odds and scoring higher than expected on tests that measure higher-level critical thinking skills, according to new research from the Stanford University-based Learning Policy Institute (LPI).

“The research finds that providing students with qualified, fully prepared teachers is a critical component for raising student achievement,” said Anne Podolsky, lead author of “California’s Positive Outliers: Districts Beating the Odds,” who added that she believes the findings should show education policymakers “the importance of [educator] recruitment and retention.”

Source: Report: Experienced Teachers Key to Students Beating the Odds