The Beginning Educator Support and Training program (BEST) was designed in the late 1980s as one response Connecticut made to raise standards for teachers. Over the years, BEST has evolved from a classroom-observation based program to one in which new teachers now develop a teaching and learning portfolio in their second year of teaching.
Support for new teachers going through BEST comes from many sources, especially the local school districts and CEA. Click on the links below for more extensive information about BEST and tools for preparing for the portfolio assessment.
CEA links…
BEST general information …..portfolio overviews, updates and changes to the BEST program and portfolio, links to State Department of Education on line seminars, links to information about viewing portfolio exemplars
BEST preparation & support tools…..8 preparation ‘sessions’ for 1st year teachers, 3 ‘organizing’ sessions for 2nd year teachers, suggestions for time management, and more…
The Mentor’s Toolbox…..a year-long guide for mentors to help 1st year teachers get started on the right foot!
State Department of Education BEST program links…
BEST home page…..links to the Beginning Teacher Guide, portfolio handbooks, sample portfolios, seminar information, etc.
BEST Connections…..site for subscribing to electronic communications from the SDE and registering for seminars
21 Oak Street Hartford, CT 06106 
