Efforts to improve educational quality are hampered by shortages of qualified teachers. These shortages are related to several factors, including misassignment of teachers, inadequate teacher education, lack of clarity about educational priorities, insufficient rewards, and low levels of collegial support aimed at improving practice. Educational quality is also held down by misdirected administrative priorities and poor systems for curriculum development. Steps to encourage the professionalization of teaching will enhance educational quality if these steps involve granting teachers greater responsibility for their profession. Measures to increase teacher professionalism include reducing the number of education courses education majors are required to take and increasing the number of courses required in subject areas to be taught; increasing inservice pedagogical training; assigning master teachers to plan and conduct staff development; revising teacher pay scales to reward professional development; reducing the principal's managerial role and increasing the instructional leadership role; and placing curriculum development in the hands of skilled teachers. State agencies must be involved in developing comprehensive programs to improve quality, but local efforts can encourage the process. (PGD)