For decades, the Toledo Federation of Teachers and the Toledo Public Schools have been viewed throughout the nation as leaders in developing and implementing an innovative and collaborative system of peer review for both beginning and selected veteran teachers. This system, called The Toledo Plan, has the premises that a collaborative decision regarding teacher quality is always better than a unilateral decision and that great teachers possess the expertise needed to effectively assess and assist both entry-level teachers and those veteran teachers who are experiencing difficulty in the classroom. In 2001, the Institute for Government Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University recognized The Toledo Plan for its pioneering efforts in improving the quality of classroom instruction through a collaborative form of peer review.

As Superintendent and CEO of the Toledo Public Schools, I am honored that you have expressed interest in the award-winning Toledo Plan. I am confident that the information contained in this booklet will assist you to formulate the correct decision regarding peer review's place in your school district or agency. If you choose to move forward with a peer review model, this document offers a "road map" to success through proven implementation practices and procedures.

Eugene T. W. Sanders
Superintendent and CEO