Adapting support contingently to student needs by first diagnosing their current understanding, that is, scaffolding, is considered a key aspect of excellent teaching. The use of classroom scaffolding is rare, however. We therefore investigated the benefits to teachers of a professional development program that was based upon a model of contingent…

New Zealand's Hutt Valley Outpost experimental teacher training model was established in 1969 on a local high school campus following problems recruiting and training secondary teachers. By offering local training, researchers found students sought local positions. Similar programs began in other districts. The model has endured and evolved. (SM)