Study Methodology
This study was designed and implemented by James G. Ward, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Edward P. St. John, Indiana University. Research Partners and Sabrina Laine, North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL), did the basic data collection. Ward and St. John and their associates at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Indiana University provided the analysis and description of the data, with significant input by Laine and her NCREL colleagues.
In order to reach a better understanding of the state policy context for professional development, the study asked states to provide information about state mandates for teacher professional development and continuing education and about the funding of those mandates. These questions addressed issues of specific state requirements for professional development; asked about the relationship among professional development; teacher certification, and continued employment, and sought information about direct state payment to teachers for professional development and state requirements for time allocated to professional development.
The finance portion of the study was organized around the following research questions:
- What funds are available for professional development from state and federal sources in the various states?
- How are these funds allocated to intermediate entities and local school districts?
- What requirements are imposed by the states for the expenditure of these funds?
Initially, all 50 state departments of education were contacted by Research Partners to collect selected data on teacher professional development by means of a telephone survey. When the task became too complicated in some states for a straightforward telephone survey, a paper survey was sent by facsimile. Follow-up telephone conversations were then used to secure complete data. Responses were received from 19 states.
The results reported in this study are organized around an analysis of six of the seven states in the NCREL region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. Wisconsin chose not to respond. The analysis of the North Central states is enhanced by data from the other states outside the region that provided complete data: California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. Louisiana provided incomplete data, but the information is included here.
