; and (B) fosters a collaborative culture to— (i) support educator development, effectiveness, and student learning; (ii) support access and use research to improve practice and student learning; (iii) promote professional learning for continuous improvement; (iv) facilitate improvements in instruction and student learning; promote the appropriate use of assessments and data for school and district improvement; (v) improve outreach and collaboration with families and community; (vi) advance the profession by shaping and implementing policy; (vii) advocate for increased access to great teaching and learning for all students; and (viii) demonstrate cultural competencies and provide instruction and support as such. (33) Teaching skills The term teaching skills means skills that enable a teacher to— (A) increase student learning, achievement, and the ability to apply knowledge; (B) effectively convey, explain, and provide opportunities for students to develop the skills aligned with the full depth and breadth of the State challenging academic standards, including the application of academic subject matter; (C) effectively teach higher-order analytical, evaluation, problem-solving, critical thinking, social and emotional, collaboration, and communication skills; (D) employ strategies grounded in the disciplines of teaching and learning that— (i) are based on empirically based practice and evidence-based research, where applicable, related to teaching and learning; (ii) are specific to academic subject matter; and (iii) focus on the identification of students’ specific learning needs, particularly students with disabilities, students who are English learners, students who are gifted and talented, and students with low literacy levels, and the tailoring of academic instruction to such needs