Professional Development Report Roundup

Research Report: Professional Development

By Sarah D. Sparks — September 06, 2016 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Professional learning communities are a popular way of helping teachers work together to solve problems and improve instruction, but it can be hard to judge how effective they are.

A new guide from the Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic outlines 49 evidence-based measures districts can use to assess those groups. It details 31 quantitative and 18 qualitative measures that gauge a variety of aspects of a professional learning community, including: shared and supportive leadership, shared values and vision, collective learning and application, personal practice, and supportive conditions for structure and relationships.

The authors recommend districts consider the goals of their groups and tailor assessments based on local needs.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the September 07, 2016 edition of Education Week as Professional Development

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Professional Development Spotlight Spotlight on PD for the Science of Reading
This Spotlight will help you discover how to help students develop conceptual understanding, effectively teach word problems, and more.



Professional Development Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Professional Development?
Answer 7 questions about literacy-focused professional development.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Quiz
Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Effective Literacy Professional Learning?
Answer 8 questions about effective literacy PD.
Content provided by Lexia Learning
Professional Development Teachers Set the Agenda for This Math PD Program. So Far, They Like the Results
Inviting teachers to set the professional learning agenda "shouldn't be radical," said one of the project's leads.
6 min read
Modern collage with vector style ear with red lines connected to five halftone black and white open mouths
iStock/Getty