Teacher PD

How teachers improve their instructional practices by earning credentials, receiving coaching, attending conferences, and collaborating

See also: Professional Development, PD Research, Principal PD

Explainer

Image shows a silhouette of a person learning, and the components to make that work is represented by gears.
Teacher Professional Development, Explained
What counts as PD? And is it effective? EdWeek breaks down current trends—and new research—in this explainer.
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Third-grader Fallon Rawlinson reads a book at Good Springs Elementary School in Good Springs, Nev., on March 30, 2022. For decades, there has been a clash between two schools of thought on how to best teach children to read, with passionate backers on each side of the so-called reading wars. But the approach gaining momentum lately in American classrooms is the so-called science of reading.
Third-grader Fallon Rawlinson reads a book at Good Springs Elementary School in Good Springs, Nev., on March 30, 2022. Many more states and districts are emphasizing evidence-based practices, including phonics, in reading programs. But the U.S. Department of Education's withholding of teacher-training funding could stymie some of those efforts.
Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP
Reading & Literacy Trump School Funding Freeze Has Some Districts Scrambling to Save 'Science of Reading' PD
Teachers need ongoing assistance to make difficult shifts in teaching reading. Some districts had counted on the withheld Title II funding.
Sarah Schwartz, July 17, 2025
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4 min read
Elizabeth Alonzo, pictured here working with 2nd grade student Maria Gonzalez de Leon at West Elementary in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022, is a bilingual aid at the school. Other students at the table are from left, Herlina Hernandez Guidel, Xavier Hooker, and Jaciel Felipe Matias.
Bilingual aide Elizabeth Alonzo works with 2nd grader Maria Gonzalez de Leon, along with classmates, from left, Herlina Hernandez Guidel, Xavier Hooker, and Jaciel Felipe Matias, at West Elementary School in Russellville, Ala., on Dec. 9, 2022. Supplemental staff such as aides and tutors can be funded through Title III, but those funds are currently frozen, leaving hiring decisions in limbo.
Tamika Moore for Education Week
English Learners Delayed Title III Funds Leave Districts' English-Learner Expenses in Limbo
The $890 million Title III program is among the billions the Trump administration is currently withholding from schools.
Ileana Najarro, July 16, 2025
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4 min read
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Peter DeWitt
Professional Development Opinion How Communities of Practice Can Drive School Improvement
Professional learning often feels like an event. Here's how to make it impactful and collaborative.
Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson, July 16, 2025
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4 min read
Damon Lewis, the principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, and Tony Cattani, the principal of Lenape High School, receive their awards at the annual National Association of Secondary School Principals Illuminate Principal of the Year Celebration in Seattle.
From left, Damon Lewis, the principal of Ponus Ridge STEAM Academy, and Tony Cattani, the principal of Lenape High School, receive their awards at the National Association of Secondary School Principals conference in Seattle. They were both named the 2025-26 National Principal of the Year.
Courtesy of Allyssa Hynes/National Association of Secondary School Principals
School & District Management Q&A ‘A Nice and Gentle Disrupter’: Meet the New Principals of the Year
The award went to middle school principal Damon Lewis and high school principal Tony Cattani.
Olina Banerji & Jennifer Vilcarino, July 10, 2025
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11 min read
Em DePriest of Kansas speaks on behalf of a proposal to create an early career teacher working group. Members of the National Education Association's Aspiring Educators Program move to bring an initiative to a vote during the NEA Representative Assembly in Portland, Ore., on July 3, 2025.
Em DePriest, a teacher in Kansas, speaks in favor of a proposal to create an early-career teacher working group. Members of the National Education Association's Aspiring Educators program moved to bring the initiative to a vote during the NEA representative assembly in Portland, Ore., on July 3, 2025.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Teaching Profession ‘You Can Lead Now’: Inside the NEA’s Plan to Engage New Teachers
In an aging workforce, the nation's largest teachers' union seeks ways to engage younger educators.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 9, 2025
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3 min read
Illustration of female teacher in classroom using artificial intelligence.
iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence Microsoft, OpenAI Partner With AFT to Train Teachers on AI
The announcement comes as a rising number of school districts are providing AI training to teachers and administrators.
Alyson Klein, July 8, 2025
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4 min read
A panel discusses how educators can access and equitably use AI-tools at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 in San Antonio on June 30, 2025.
A panel discusses how educators can access and equitably use AI-tools at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 in San Antonio on June 30, 2025. Speakers included, from left, Jessica Garner of ISTE+ASCD, Wyman Khuu of Playlab.ai, Elvira Salazar of Latinos for Education, and Amy Holt of Indigitize.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Artificial Intelligence AI Is Changing Classrooms. Should Teachers Help Build It?
Experts say teachers should help build, not just use, AI tools, and that PD must go beyond tech skills to include trust and leadership.
Jennifer Vilcarino, July 1, 2025
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2 min read
Alison Flaata, a technology integration coordinator for the South Washington County district in Minnesota, listens to questions about her poster presentation on small ways to provide tech professional development at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 in San Antonio on June 30, 2025.
Alison Flaata, a technology integration coordinator for the South Washington County district in Minnesota, listens to questions about her poster presentation on small ways to provide tech professional development at the ISTELive 25 + ASCD Annual Conference 25 in San Antonio on June 30, 2025.
Kaylee Domzalski/Education Week
Professional Development How One District Makes Tech Training Quick and Easy
A district tech coordinator discusses how they use micro-learning for tech training.
Lauraine Langreo, July 1, 2025
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2 min read
Illustration of a grid of closed classroom doors drawn on notebook paper. Door at center of the illustration is open to reveal the orange silhouette of an educator interacting with an orange silhouette of a mother and son shown in a positive and warm landscape environment of greenery and blue skies.
Taylor Callery for Education Week
English Learners ESL Teachers Want More PD on Curriculum and Family Engagement
EdWeek Research Center survey data on teacher morale found English-as-as-second-language teachers seeking specific PD for morale.
Ileana Najarro & Alex Harwin, June 30, 2025
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4 min read
Classroom teachers learn from subject matter experts during a training session at Alicedes Figuera Bilingual School Grades 6-12, a National Professional Development grant school partner, in Añasco, PR. NPD grants of the federal office for English language acquisition provide training and micro-credential programs on serving English learners. Schools partner with universities and nonprofits for these services.
Classroom teachers learn from subject matter experts during a training session at Alicedes Figuera Bilingual School Grades 6-12, a National Professional Development grant school partner, in Añasco, PR. NPD grants of the federal office for English language acquisition provide training and micro-credential programs on serving English learners. Schools partner with universities and nonprofits for these services.
Courtesy of Belinda Gimbert
English Learners Teachers Need EL Training, but Federal Grant Funding Is at Risk
National Professional Development grants help school districts serving English learners get support for teacher training and credentialing.
Ileana Najarro, June 30, 2025
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8 min read
Students interact in a fourth grade classroom at William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Compton, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2025.
Students interact in a 4th grade classroom at William Jefferson Clinton Elementary in Compton, Calif., on Feb. 6, 2025. More young students could receive instruction in phonics and other evidence-based techniques, if a long-sought state proposal is approved.
Eric Thayer/AP
Reading & Literacy California Is Poised to Pass a 'Science of Reading' Law After a Long, Tense Debate
Advocates on both sides say the compromise bill is strong, but imperfect. Will it move literacy instruction forward in the state?
Sarah Schwartz, June 12, 2025
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7 min read
Sharing ideas and knowledge with others. Human hand gives light bulb to other hand. Person passes to friend or colleague some business solution or skills.
Mary Long/iStock
Professional Development Opinion Here’s What Happens When You Let Students Run Your Teacher PD
Teachers need more opportunities for experiential learning. That’s where students can come in.
Kate Ehrlich, June 6, 2025
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4 min read
Photo illustration showing sand being poured through an hourglass as it sits in front of the portrait of Benjamin Franklin on the U.S. one hundred dollar bill.
iStock/Getty
Professional Development What’s Happening to Federal Money for Teacher Training?
Key federal teacher-training grants have been delayed for this year, and may be consolidated or eliminated in fiscal 2026.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 3, 2025
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5 min read
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