In 2001, Missouri's K-16 project launched the K-12 Task Force on Achievement Gap Elimination, which believes that improving teacher quality is the single most important factor in eliminating the achievement gap among Missouri students. This report describes the significance of teacher quality on student achievement, emphasizing the uneven distribution of high-quality teachers throughout the state. While Missouri's students are not well prepared to take full advantage of the state's higher education opportunities, some are at greater disadvantage then others. The report describes Missouri in a national context; defines "achievement gap"; presents individual and statewide consequences of achievement gaps; and discusses teacher quality as a factor in achievement gaps. Recommendations include: design a financial incentive of at least $10,000 annually per teacher to attract and retain the highest-quality new and continuing teachers at low-performing schools; establish standards for the quality of teaching in a building and the quality of building leadership in a district; assess teachers' content knowledge in low-performing schools and provide content-based professional development for those with deficiencies; and develop a coordinated K-16 data collection process for analyzing student performance. Tables are appended. (SM)