High Quality Professional Development

High quality professional development in reading is based on related research translated into effective applications for school settings. According to a recent research synthesis by the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, professional development is most likely to have a positive impact on teaching and learning when it is characterized by the following qualities:

Of considerable duration
The more time spent on Professional Development, the more coherent teacher instruction relative to standards based content. Researchers found that teachers who had 80 or more hours of content-related Professional Development during the previous year were significantly more likely to use reform-based instruction than teachers who had fewer hours. They also found that student achievement improved significantly with increased exposure to reform-based teacher instruction.

Focused on specific content and strategies
Professional Development focused on specific curricula results in more reform-oriented practice than more general professional development. For classroom practice to improve, professional development should be:
• Grounded in the curriculum taught

• Embedded in an aligned system and connected to elements of instruction

• Extended over time with built in practice, coaching, and follow up

Collective participation
When a higher portion of a school's teachers are engaged in professional development, the positive effects on teaching and learning increase.

Coherence
Consistency with school learning goals, activities, materials and district and state policies increases the effects of professional development on student achievement.

Infused with active learning tasks
Teachers participate in "hands-on" learning activities during the course of the professional development.

		For Teachers For Coaches For Administrators For Parents For Researchers


About Mission Center Research Presentations and Publications Curriculum and Instruction Assessment Programs Progress Monitoring and Reporting Network Training/Technical Assistance Projects Professional Development Interventions for Struggling Readers PIRT Doctoral Training Resources/Partners/Links FCRR Media/Podcasts Employment Opportunities A Florida State University Center	High Quality Professional Development High quality professional development in reading is based on related research translated into effective applications for school settings. According to a recent research synthesis by the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, professional development is most likely to have a positive impact on teaching and learning when it is characterized by the following qualities: Of considerable duration The more time spent on Professional Development, the more coherent teacher instruction relative to standards based content. Researchers found that teachers who had 80 or more hours of content-related Professional Development during the previous year were significantly more likely to use reform-based instruction than teachers who had fewer hours. They also found that student achievement improved significantly with increased exposure to reform-based teacher instruction. Focused on specific content and strategies Professional Development focused on specific curricula results in more reform-oriented practice than more general professional development. For classroom practice to improve, professional development should be: • Grounded in the curriculum taught • Embedded in an aligned system and connected to elements of instruction • Extended over time with built in practice, coaching, and follow up Collective participation When a higher portion of a school's teachers are engaged in professional development, the positive effects on teaching and learning increase. Coherence Consistency with school learning goals, activities, materials and district and state policies increases the effects of professional development on student achievement. Infused with active learning tasks Teachers participate in "hands-on" learning activities during the course of the professional development.