Staff development planning must consider the local environment and unique staff culture, along with intended goals. Effective staff development vision components include people philosophy, renewal by improving, differentiated supervision, a community of learners, connections and networks, self-directed involvement, a single mission, teamwork,…

An effective youth development-based staff training program includes such key elements as: building caring and trusting relationships; engaging participants; offering opportunities for contribution; setting high expectations; and providing continuity. Presents a framework for thinking about how to strengthen training, offering practical…

An evaluation checklist is provided for assessing a school's strengths and weaknesses relative to the safety and security of buildings and grounds, as well as assessing development and enforcement of policies, the presence of intervention and prevention plans, staff development, parent and community involvement, opportunities for student…

Presents and explains how to use a checklist for helping principals determine the presence of effective elements in their schools' staff development programs. The checklist process involves testing such program factors as school commitment levels, needs assessment components, program development activities, program implementation and evaluation,…

As Mississippi's experience shows, there are five necessary stages for staff development: preplanning (forming a committee), planning, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance. This article examines each phase, provides checklists, and highlights the principal's responsibility during each phase. (eight references) (MLH)

Presents a professional-development template to help increase teachers' growth, satisfaction, and motivation. Programs should offer small, significant doses of user-friendly, high- challenge, low-threat, and hands-on activities that encourage teachers to construct their own knowledge, reflect on their practices, and try new approaches. (MLH)

The document presents Kentucky Department of Education guidelines for developing programs to meet the needs of gifted students. The educational philosophy states that educational programs for the gifted should be designed so they are significantly different from those provided in the regular classroom. Gifted students are defined as those who have…

This booklet presents a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate and compare curricula for the teaching of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The criteria are arranged in a checklist covering curriculum content and curriculum development/implementation. The booklet discusses developmental…

This annotated model outline provides guidelines for writing a plan for using computers and related learning technologies in schools. It is consistent with the components of the Merrimack Education Center's technology applications planning process, and can be modified to accommodate additional components and special school district requirements.…

This paper reports on the external evaluation of a project to expand existing services in the Orange County (Florida) school district to handicapped students with limited English proficiency (LEP). Major goals of the project include development, demonstration, and packaging of methods, procedures, and materials for identifying, placing, and…

This chapter on designing and implementing effective staff development programs is taken from a guide to instruction and services for students with disabilities. The chapter focuses on assessment of staff development needs and identification of priorities for training. Staff development options are discussed in terms of formats (such as workshops,…

This Personalized Activity Kit is designed to provide an overview of the major factors that must be considered in improving existing school programs as well as in initiating needed programs. The factors reviewed here are student objectives, districtwide program structure/program objectives, school building philosophy/staff objectives, staff…

Suggests ways of addressing challenges faced by district library media supervisors by focusing energies on those departmental outcomes likely to make greatest difference in lives of staff and students. Taking care of self, setting and honoring priorities, working from staff development perspective, and effective skill teaching are highlighted. (8…

This annotated bibliography provides a listing of approximately 75 journal articles, reports, teaching models, symposia proceedings, monographs, and videotape recordings on inclusion of students with disabilities in regular education settings. The listing is organized by subject categories, including case studies, checklists, early childhood,…

Recommendations are offered to help administrators successfully implement mastery learning (ML). It is stated that: (1) ML requires watching both the achievement and satisfaction of learners; (2) consideration of teachers' knowledge and attitudes when training them in ML principles is critical; (3) a high level of skill and commitment is required…