Professional Development

Critical Issues in Professional Development

• Providing More Time for Professional Development

• Terms of Engagement—Rethinking Teachers' Independent Learning Traits

• Providing Professional Development for Effective Technology Use

• Evaluating Professional Growth and Development

• Finding Time for Professional Development

• Realizing New Learning for All Students Through Professional Development

• Educating Teachers for Diversity

Supporting Materials

• NCREL Web Site: Professional Development: Staff Learning for Student Results
• NCREL Literature Review: Results-Oriented Professional Development: In Search of an Optimal Mix of Effective Practices
• NCREL Essay: What Changes Are Generating New Needs for Professional Development?
• NCREL Policy Brief: Professional Development: Changing Times

Additional Resources

• Internet Links
  Although NCREL takes care in selecting other Internet sites to which it links or points, such selection does not imply endorsement by NCREL, its partners, or funding agents.
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  NFIE's program to improve the quality and availability of professional development for public school teachers, education support personnel, and higher education faculty and staff.
• The Mentor Teacher Handbook
  This document describes the nature of a productive mentor/mentee relationship, and provides tips on organizing and evaluating a mentor program.
• Mentor Leadership and Resource Network
  Home page of MLRN, an affiliate of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, includes some free mentoring information.
• National Staff Development Council
  Home page of the agency whose mission is to ensure success for all students by serving as the international network for those who improve schools and by advancing individual and organization development. Make special note of the NSDC Standards for Staff Development, A National Plan for National Foundation for the Improvement of Education - A Change of Course Improving Professional Development, and online articles from the Journal of Staff Development.
• Teachers Take Charge of Their Learning: Transforming Professional Development for Student Success
  This 1996 report was prepared by the National Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
• Helping Teachers Teach Well: Transforming Professional Development
  This 1995 report was prepared by the Consortium for Policy Research in Education.
• Improving America's Schools: Newsletter on Issues in School Reform
  A U.S. Department of Education newsletter intended to help school, district, and state leaders explore key topics in improving America's schools. This issue explores professional development.
• Promising Practices: New Ways to Improve Teacher Quality
  A 1998 publication from the U.S. Department of Education outlines strategies for achieving excellence in the teaching profession through recruitment, licensing and certification standards, preservice education, professional development practices, accountability, and incentives.
• Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
  Announces ASCD's professional development conferences, presents Education News and Issues, and provides Table of Contents for the Educational Leadership journal as well as full text of some articles.
• Hotlist: Educational.Resources
  Hotlist, from the Franklin Institute, of links to resources on professional development, curriculum, and other topics.
• REGION VI Comprehensive Center
  Home page of the regional education research, training, and development center whose mission is to ensure that sustained, non-fragmented training and technical assistance are developed and provided to assist in meeting the needs of all students served under the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994 (IASA) and in areas consistent with the vision of the National Goals 2000 program.