BEST Resources

CEA’s Efforts to Repair the BEST Program
CEA has been working towards changing the BEST program for the better since 1998. Please see the following resources:
More information about the BEST study by the Program Review Committee

BEST Recommendations

Format for a letter to legislators

Sample letter to legislators you can use to tell them about BEST

The Program Review and Investigations Committee Completed their study on BEST and released a report on December 18, 2007
View CEA's explanation of the major recommendations of the BEST report
Read the PRC's Key Points about the BEST study, and the recommendations made
Read the full BEST study report

Read research briefs about the positive effects of mentoring programs
Does New Teacher Support Affect Student Achievement?
New Teacher Support Pays Off...a return on investment for educators and kids
Making a Case for Policy Investments that Help New Teachers Succeed
High Quality Mentoring and Induction Practices
The High Cost of Teacher Turnover

CEA DVD: Teachers Tell Why BEST is Not the Best
CEA is organizing teachers to share their concerns about BEST while the Program Review and Investigations Committee (PRC) is conducting a critical evaluation. Hear what other educators have to say about BEST and what needs to be done to repair it.
Watch the BEST video by CEA on YouTube OR Watch the BEST video by CEA on cea.org
Send your comments about BEST to the Program Review and Investigations Committee (PRC) at PRI@cga.ct.gov

BEST Program Public Hearing - September 27, 2007
Scores of teachers shared their serious concerns about BEST in a public hearing before the Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee on September 27 at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Beginning teachers must successfully complete BEST Program requirements in order to be eligible for the Provisional Educator Certificate in Connecticut.
September 2007 BEST report to Program Review Committee
Read sample testimony from the hearing
Watch the video of the hearing at CT-N

CEA's prior BEST studies:
Highlights of 2006 web survey
Highlights of 2003 telephone survey & focus groups
Highlights of 1998 telephone survey & focus groups

BEST portfolio scores 1999-2007
scores by content area
scores by year
scores by score number

BEST Portfolio Resources for Teachers
BEST General Information
Keep updated about changes and additions to the BEST program. Schedules for upcoming seminars, information about the portfolio, where to view samples of BEST portfolios, and all other general information about BEST.

BEST Preparation & Support Tools
There are many things you can and should do to prepare for the portfolio assessment. See suggestions and tools available that will help you organize, prepare for, and take some of the busy-work out of compiling your portfolio

Life After BEST...getting involved in our associations
Once the BEST program is behind you, your growth as a teacher can come via many avenues. View and listen to this presentation to learn how to use your interests to get involved in your professional associations and open doors to professional growth.

Results of the CEA Survey on BEST

See how your colleagues feel about the BEST Program for beginning teachers....
all survey results
survey comments from teachers who have done portfolios
survey comments from teachers who have served as mentors
survey comments from teachers with other roles in BEST

Mentor's Toolbox
Designed especially for mentors and others who wish to support new teachers, The Mentor's Toolbox is a 2-year guide to meeting the needs of beginning teachers. Year 1 contains topics to focus on each month, suggestions for activities to do with a beginning teacher, and links to web sites with a lot more information! Year 2 helps the mentor work with the new teacher to get ready for, and complete, the portfolio tasks, and 'wrap up' the loose ends before submitting it. Using The Mentor's Toolbox, the most experienced mentor will be able to provide beginning teachers with better support to help them 'settle in' to the routines of daily teaching and face the challenges of the BEST portfolio more successfully.

BEST is the program required for teacher certification by the State Dept. of Education in Connecticut. Contact Linette Branham with questions or comments at linetteb@cea.org or call her at 800-842-4316 or 860-525-5641. Let us know how we can help you!

All green links or links marked with a key are for CEA members only.

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