As difficult as the economy is at a personal level, school systems across the country are also struggling to find solutions to applying limited funds to seemingly unlimited challenges. Professional learning, as National Staff Development Council (NSDC) President Charles Mason says in his column, is often among the first things to be cut from a…

Changing ideas about staff development means districts must begin calculating time and money being spent to support staff development. This paper examines how some schools manage time and money related to staff development, explains how to tie staff development time to money, discusses states' influence in staff development, and addresses the need…

Effective advocacy for staff development requires actions to develop support from in- and outside the school district. Advocacy involves vision, commitment, outreach, good planning, proof of program quality and effectiveness, alignment of staff development and school district goals, and understanding of client concerns. (SM)