One challenge facing faculty and staff at higher education institutions, and particularly those with an access mission, is understanding and supporting their students in a holistic manner. Organizations with a high proportion of traditionally at-risk students must balance resource demands with providing the intensive teaching and advising models…

This resource was prepared in response to a request for examples of developmental screening activities in Early Learning Challenge (ELC) States. This information will be helpful to States as they consider how to identify and address health, behavioral, and developmental needs of children with high needs. To address this request, ELC TA reviewed…

The purpose of this chapter is to advance the concept of pedagogical content knowledge in a manner that would better align it with the integrative type of knowledge needed by teachers at all three stages (preservice teachers, induction teachers, and cooperating teachers), allowing them to use model-based instruction (MBI) most effectively in…

School restructuring is enhanced when strong staff development plays three primary roles: a vehicle for developing new knowledge, skills, and attitudes; an unfreezing influence that helps people consider large-scale restructuring; and a vision of the school as a learning community. Examples from three school districts are provided. (SM)

The materials contained in this conference report are presented in three sections, one for each day of the conference. The agenda for the first day included an activity session entitled "Gregarious Activities Make Everyone Smile (Games)," a presentation on the use of computers in physical education, a session on the role of understanding…

The concept of staff development and continuous improvement for teachers and administrators is discussed in the context of a state-developed plan that allows teacher certification renewal only after participation in an approved local staff development program. The plan stipulates that local educational agencies identify student needs and…

Elementary, middle, and high school teachers from several school districts in California and Georgia share their experiences with designing and using study groups. Teachers report that the study groups identified educational and school needs, promoted teacher empowerment, increased collegiality, and kept teachers up on current issues and research…

Discusses a workshop designed to help middle and high school counselors and teachers learn about the complexities of the college admission process. Information about variables related to success in college provided a discussion about how middle and high schools can change their counseling programs to address more psychosocial concerns. (MKA)

Organizations and institutions often measure progress in concrete facts, such as how many structures they have and how high they are. Osborne High School in Marietta, Georgia, measures its success by how many walls it can tear down. Staff members see walls as limiting and, perhaps more important, as objects that allow people to make excuses for…

A peer coaching program in Georgia involved 22 elementary teachers as participants in professional development to stimulate their cognitive development. Teachers learned the peer coaching process, then participated in four coaching cycles. The program raised their conceptual levels, reduced teacher isolation, and developed more positive attitudes…

Describes the development of a Web-based staff development course by the Glynn County School System (Georgia) for their teachers that focused on use of the Internet. Discusses the use of WebCT software; pretest and posttest results of skill levels; participant reactions; and instructor reactions. (LRW)

In 1985 Georgia adopted the Quality Basic Education Act that requires local school systems to provide all public school officials and personnel the opportunity to continue their development throughout their professional careers. A formula was set for State funding of professional development programs. The Act also required each local school system…

This manual for use by vocational administrators, local system staff development coordinators, and teacher educators describes the state staff development program for vocational personnel, including rationale, structure, and procedures for such programs. It is also designed to establish an organized channel of communication for disseminating…

The Georgia Teacher Certification Tests were developed and validated to be job-related and to reflect the minimum content knowledge that is necessary to teach in each certification area in Georgia classrooms. Three assessment instruments are used in evaluating the performance of preservice students and beginning teachers. The Teacher Performance…

Captures the cooperative spirit of a suburban Georgia high school with 2,000 highly mobile students from 60 countries and speaking over 30 different languages. Staff work to counter stereotypical assumptions and use diversity as a positive resource for learning and promotion of individual excellence. Diversity-management strategies related to…