Learning Forward introduces new Standards for Professional Learning. This is the third iteration of standards outlining the characteristics of professional learning that lead to effective teaching practices, supportive leadership, and improved student results. The standards are not a prescription for how education leaders and public officials…

Staff development's brand is tarnished. Many of its consumers are not satisfied. Some are angry. Others are resigned to accepting professional development as it is because they lack the will or power or knowledge to change it. Educators respond in these ways because their staff development experiences are often shallow and do little to help them…

An advocate for professional learning believes deeply that it is essential for educators to not only learn throughout their careers but to use their learning to become increasingly proficient over time. The advocate buttresses this belief with knowledge of specific processes and practices that constitute effective professional learning. Some…

A thought leader is a person or group of people espousing ideas that influence the thinking and actions of many others. One of Learning Forward's strategic priorities is to engage thought leaders. The organization's rationale for this priority is that "educators are influenced by individuals and organizations with whom they have ongoing and…

The central office is both a physical place and a state of mind. In some school systems, the central office is a separate building located away from schools. In other communities, the office is housed in one of the school buildings. When someone mentions "central office," they may not be referring only to the building. They may also mean the tip…

Explains that the National Staff Development Council's revised Standards for Staff Development are a call to action to the entire field of staff development, because for too long, the professional development practices of too many school systems and schools have led nowhere. These new standards represent a road map to high quality staff…

The National Staff Development Council (NSDC) has won recognition for the field of professional development. Researchers and education change agents acknowledge the importance of professional learning among strategies essential for reforming schools and raising teacher and student performance. The federal government, states, and school districts…

The field of staff development needs better evaluation both to improve the effectiveness of teachers' learning experiences and to produce credible evidence that will garner more support for professional development. Getting serious about evaluating professional development demonstrates that a school system or school is truly serious about…

After a district has determined it's using its resources for professional development efficiently, it may look for outside funding. Before asking for support from external funders, potential grant writers should examine their own level of commitment and then follow some simple procedures to maximize the possibility for success.