The Benedum Collaborative was recognized by the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) with its "Award for Exemplary Professional Development School Achievement" at the 2012 National Professional Development Schools Conference. The conceptual framework supporting simultaneous renewal of teachers, pre-service…

An important feature of professional development school (PDS) work is encouraging collaborative reflective dialogue that guides a partnership toward actualizing the possibilities for and mission of a PDS. This article provides a case "illustration" of a fictitious, exemplary PDS and a "protocol" that in combination can be used…

In a sequential mixed methods design, we sought to examine the relationship between teachers' beliefs and their instructional technology practices among technology-using teachers who worked at technology-rich schools to ultimately describe if change in practice toward a student-centered paradigm occurred. The integrated mixed-methods results…

Various approaches to the professional development school (PDS)--each designed for its respective audience, mission, and purpose for engagement--have shaped the professional development school effort during the past 25 years. Central to these approaches is improving teacher quality in the service of student learning. This provides direction for…

A study examined the impact of the "Closing the Achievement Gap" (CAG schools) program on the academic achievement of students in 30 schools serving high percentages of African American and economically disadvantaged students in West Virginia (WV), 2004-2008. The program assigned experienced educators, "CAG liaisons", to the…

In August 2004, the WVDE asked the Appalachia Educational Laboratory at Edvantia, Inc. to evaluate the demonstration project, in order to meet the evaluation and reporting requirements set forth in the law. According to Fink (1993), baseline evaluation data allow for subsequent analyses of the effect or impact of a program. The purpose of this…

This paper describes the development and implementation of plans to establish professional development schools (PDS) in West Virginia. The conceptualization of this project began with consultant recommendations and faculty discussions at West Virginia University (WVU) concerning needs for reforms in teacher preparation and in the public schools.…

Six professional development achools (PDS) have been established in rural West Virginia as a result of an education reform effort. Two junior high schools, two elementary schools, and two high schools have been participating for the past 2 years in restructuring efforts that involve collaboration between public school teachers and university…

One of the most important provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is the requirement that all teachers of core academic subjects be "highly qualified" by the end of school year 2005-2006. Key principles for recruiting and preparing future teachers have been identified as raising academic standards for teachers and lowering…