NCTR has been awarded $350,000 from the Joyce Foundation to assist the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago-area school districts and their university partners in the development of new teacher residency programs. The grant will allow NCTR to develop a “community of practice” with the participants so that they can share ideas, plans, resources and key learnings as they work to launch their programs. When up and running, the new residencies will develop as many as 40 elementary teachers each year for students in Chicago Public Schools, the Woodstock Community Unit School District 200, and the North Chicago Community Unit School District 187. The grant will allow NCTR to accelerate its work with state boards and education departments, which are increasingly turning to the residency model to develop well-prepared, committed teachers for high-need schools and students.