It's not often that education research studies make the front page of the New York Times, but this was a big exception. A far-reaching study by Harvard and Columbia researchers found that highly effective elementary and middle school teachers directly led to better success in life for their students.

Of the 2.5 million kids studied over 20 years, those with great teachers early on -- as measured by test scores -- were less likely to experience teen pregnancy, more likely to go to college, had higher earnings, lived in better neighborhoods and even saved more for retirement.

Clearly, teacher quality matters a lot for the future of our kids and our country as a whole. We need to make sure we keep our best teachers in the classroom and we reward them with pay that reflects the important of their work so that every kid has the opportunity to learn from a great teacher.

Support efforts to recruit, reward and retain great teachers for all American students.