To improve the quality of teaching in New York State's schools, state and local policy-makers must consider a number of issues that affect teaching quality. These issues are outlined in this booklet, which also provides a number of policy recommendations. The basic concepts reviewed are (1) the assumptions that underlie the collaborative endeavor that is effective education; (2) factors affecting the recruitment, training, and professional development of teachers; (3) possible responses to variations in teacher supply and demand; and (4) appropriate development and application of certification standards and professional requirements. Additional concepts covered are (5) various forms of teacher compensation, incentives, and rewards; (6) the need for defining incompetence and establishing effective procedures for teacher discipline; (7) the characteristics of effective schooling and the value of decentralizing authority as determined through research; and (8) the importance of cooperation among educators and educational policy-makers at all levels to develop strong, coordinated approaches to educational improvement. (PGD)