As additional funding and new legislation increase our focus on literacy, we should consider the findings of a study by the National Staff Development Council and the National Education Association on what works. The study reviews programs that have demonstrated improvements in student learning, and issues key findings for every grade level.

Educators from the Baltimore City Public Schools and the Houston Independent School District describe how they implement inclusion and the role of staff development in the process. The Baltimore district describes its consulting teacher model, which supports inclusion from the inside out. The Houston district offers strategies for districts…

Rather than focusing on teaching teachers, university researchers helped local teachers study what students thought about math and science ideas--with powerful results. As teachers understood what students were thinking, they modified their practices to promote deeper understanding. Their collaboration created bottom-up change.

When Prince George's County Public Schools created a teacher mentor program, administrators also created a system for evaluating it with clear expectations and goals at the outset. Precisely defining objectives enabled leaders to see their progress, determine what needed to change along the way, and build support for the program.

Clinical supervision as inquiry encourages teachers to reflect upon their teaching and develop and test hypotheses about what is effective and why. The paper discusses two models of thinking (the multiple intelligences theory, and identification of habits of mind) that enrich the clinical supervision experience, and makes recommendations for staff…

Describes a collaborative reform effort among three school districts and the University of Charleston to meet the diverse needs of middle school science students with mild to moderate disabilities. The article discusses the design and implementation of the collaborative model, indicators of its success, and recommendations for similar efforts. (SM)

Multicultural education (MCE) is one of four major goals of the Columbus (Ohio) public schools. The district is committed to providing professional development in MCE. The article details an MCE class implemented by Ohio State University and the Staff Development and MCE departments, noting the positive feedback from a program evaluation. (SM)

Evaluation frames offer a practical, adaptable site-based staff development approach that serves as a vehicle for clarifying needs and planning. Evaluation frames within staff development empower teachers to define and design innovations around their unique experiences. The paper describes the method and presents a sample staff development…

A unique, successful staff development program in three Louisville (Kentucky) middle schools provides opportunities for teachers of disadvantaged students to build pedagogical skills. The High5 Project promotes strategies for realizing high expectations, content, support, energy, and involvement. The paper examines change strategies and discusses…

The National Center for Effective Schools worked to translate knowledge gained from research on effective schools, educational change, and organization development into a professional development program that builds the capacity of teachers, administrators, parents, and community members who are committed to making schools more effective. The…

A framework for developing teachers' reflective decision making ability is provided along with specific staff development activities that promote teacher reflection. Strategies include conducting personal histories, video/audio self-assessment, journal writing, cognitive coaching, cases, role playing, and problem framing/action research. (SM)

A Pennsylvania district used study groups to help teachers districtwide change their science teaching to standards-based practice of inquiry. Standards-based inquiry instruction requires that teachers have a deeper content knowledge as well as understand the process of inquiry. Making those changes requires support and a collegial environment.

Describes how a task force of parents, teacher educators, and community agency and public school personnel were supported in the inclusion process through a one-year Institute on Inclusion. The paper examines this adult development effort, noting that surveys of participants indicated that effective development increased their comfort level with…

Profiles four elementary and secondary schools from around the country that have created successful staff development programs to address an array of diversity issues common in schools nationwide. The efforts included emphasizing assessment and nonverbal techniques; pairing teachers and students on technology-based projects; emphasizing motivation…

An evaluation mosaic brings together different methods and forms to present an overall picture of the impact this professional learning experience had on teachers' practices and on student achievement. Using this framework, professional developers were able to determine whether they were getting the results they wanted--and they did.