A focused, deliberate professional development strategy is a critical part of meeting student performance goals. High performing districts integrate resources to improve instruction using effective professional development models in the highest priority areas.

• School-based PD — Research indicates that schools must continually improve the actual instruction that takes place in the classroom in order to improve student performance. Scheduling time for teachers to receive regular, ongoing training in high priority areas as well as to meet with colleagues and coaches concerning teaching and learning goals is effective in focusing and improving instruction. The School-based PD page provides ways to adjust your district's resources to support the ongoing development of teachers.
  
  
• Individual Careers/Other PD — To be most effective, professional development should be individualized to support teachers in high priority subject and skill areas. Research suggests that it takes a new teacher five years to gain the experience needed to become fully effective in the classroom. A systematic program that helps teachers build classroom leadership skills is critical for both new teacher and student success. The Individual Careers/Other PD page helps you to consider your district's individual teacher career development and support strategies by allowing you to adjust contracted professional development time, and mentors and reduced class sizes for new teachers.