| American Federation of Teachers (AFT) | A national organization of teachers that is primarily concerned with improving educational conditions and protecting teachers' rights.
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| collaborative action research (CAR) | A program that connects teaching and professional growth through the use of research relevant to classroom responsibilities.
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| collective bargaining | A negotiating procedure between employer and employees for resolving disagreements on salaries, work schedules, and other conditions of employment. In collective bargaining, all teachers in a school system bargain as one group through chosen representatives.
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| induction programs | A formal program assisting new teachers to successfully adjust to their role in the classroom.
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| learning communities | The creation of more personal collaboration between teachers and students to promote similar academic goals and values.
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| mentors | A guide or an adviser, and a component of some first-year school induction programs designed to assist new teachers.
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| National Education Association (NEA) | The largest organization of educators. The NEA is concerned with the overall improvement of education and of the conditions of educators. It is organized at the national, state, and local levels.
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| peer review | The practice of having colleagues observe and assess teaching, as opposed to administrators.
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| professional development | School district efforts to improve knowledge, skills and performance of its professional staff.
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