This paper describes the development of a state initiative to improve the quality of induction programs for new teachers in Maryland. The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) based its decisions about appropriate teacher induction programs on a variety of information sources from research and practice. The important steps in the creation…

This report summarizes results of a survey of states, teacher centers, and professional organizations on the status of teacher inservice and staff development. The 43 states and the District of Columbia that responded to the survey have a state level plan for both inservice and professional development. Some, by law, require implementation of the…

An overview of Florida's statewide school improvement project, Schoolyear 2000, is provided in this paper. Schoolyear 2000, to be implemented in 1994, is a collaborative plan to improve public education in Florida through the systematic application of technology to learning and teaching. The planning and design stage has involved the Center for…

In this annotated bibliography, articles and reports of studies on the subject of beginning teacher induction are cited. Covering the topic from different perspectives, these writings address the general purposes of induction programs and, in some cases, describe how a specific program meets these needs. Some of the articles provide information on…

Development and implementation processes of the Beginning Educator Support and Training (BEST) program, a teacher evaluation and support system in Connecticut, are described. Purposes of the BEST teacher induction program include facilitating the acquisition of effective teaching behaviors, supporting new teachers, and developing veteran teachers'…

The Indiana Teacher Quality and Professional Improvement Program was established in response to legislation passed in March 1985. The purpose of the law was to review the salary and reward structure for teachers and to identify and develop methods to confer honor and respect on teachers and their profession. The Teacher Quality Team of the Indiana…

The diminishing role of the federal government in rural development has created an opportunity for new initiatives in this area. One potentially useful response is the creation of a state-rural policy center. Such centers can combine the efforts of land grant institutions, extension services, and state universities in the development and…

To determine the extent of state-mandated staff development activity in the states, a study involving the chief education officer from each of the 50 states was conducted, and the results are reported in this paper. The study and report focus on the following: (1) states mandating staff development programs; (2) states planning legislation…