This paper describes the development of an assessment method for elementary education students at North Central Bible College. The context in which performance assessment was introduced is discussed, and groundwork and planning of the assessment strategy, involving the education department as a whole, is described. The process of defining the…

This comprehensive guide discusses how to design staff development in science and math. It is tailored specifically to the needs of individual schools or departments. Vignettes from real schools illustrate concepts within the book. The book provides 15 strategies for professional development and describes each one with its underlying assumptions…

This document provides resources and tools for program developers who are designing orientations to meet the specific needs of their novice teachers. Section one looks at key questions for program developers to consider when designing an orientation (what they want beginning teachers to know about the community, district, school, and job). Section…

This policy paper summarizes the research on change and effective staff development to drive an outcomes-based, results oriented approach to increase student success. The paper provides a discussion of the following ideas necessary for practice: (1) participants must be involved in planning and developing training; (2) training must be relevant,…

These guidelines help professional development chairs, administrators, and teachers collaboratively plan for the ongoing skill development and content acquisition of staff members. Section 1, "Missions, Mandates, and Regulations for Professional Development," describes the mission of professional development as supporting teachers in…

The Missouri Excellence in Education Act of 1985 established the Missouri Career Development and Teacher Excellence Plan, also known as the Career Ladder Program. The intent of the program was to develop and implement a process to encourage quality teachers to remain in the classroom and to continue the emphasis on improved instruction. The…

This guide is intended as a resource for school or school district leadership teams who desire to rethink the teacher evaluation process. Three chapters address the task of designing a teacher evaluation system that encourages self-reflection and continuous improvement, as well as the personal and professional growth of experienced teachers. The…

This document describes a two-year elementary teacher education program conducted jointly by the Madison Metropolitan School District and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The program focused on developing more effective strategies for school-university collaboration in preparing students to teach effectively a racially, ethnically, and…