Discusses when a school-university partnership is mature or collegial enough to be called a Professional Development School (PDS) partnership, challenging those who call what they have always done a PDS. The article defines a PDS, reviews the literature on PDSs, and clarifies the many models that exist across the country. (SM)

Examined the characteristics of the college-school collaboration process in Professional Development Schools (PDSs), using meta-ethnography to analyze 20 case studies about the PDS collaboration process. Results yielded 12 themes about the collaboration process (e.g., unwillingness to work with others, prior relationships, sustained funding,…

Although schools and universities face significant hurdles in implementing and sustaining a professional development school, the PDS movement has enjoyed increased popularity. While a growing number of case studies describe collaborative challenges that PDS partners initially face, little has been written about PDSs in later stages of development.…

The price of teacher attrition is high, not only financially, but also in terms of human and institutional costs. The inability to retain beginning teachers contributes significantly to teacher shortages. This study investigates the effect of the preparation program on teacher attrition. Attrition rates of elementary teacher graduates from two…

The authors describe the premises, processes used, and outcomes of a K-16 simultaneous renewal model, as implemented through the Kansas State University Professional Development School Partnership Project. The goal of this partnership is to improve K-12 teaching and learning while improving a university teacher-preparation program through…

This paper describes the strategies, issues, activities, and interactions associated with establishing six professional development schools (PDS) as part of the Benedum Project in West Virginia. Establishment of the PDSs was a collaborative project, a school-university partnership between West Virginia University and local school districts. The…

A study examined the dynamics of the exchange of knowledge frames that lead to empowering participation for teachers and researchers, in the context of a professional development school serving elementary students of varied backgrounds. The subset of professional development school faculty who participated in the study were 2 school faculty and 3…

Central to reform efforts in Maryland's Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) since adoption of the 1995 Teacher Education Task Force Report has been development and maintenance of Professional Development Schools (PDS) for the training of teacher candidates and to provide continuing professional development for in-service teachers. This document…

This paper describes the development of a Professional Development School (PDS) partnership between a comprehensive state university and an all kindergarten elementary school. The PDS coordinator began the process of collaboration with the school principal in spring 2002. The principal invited the PDS coordinator and a university faculty member to…

This paper focuses on a revised Professional Development School (PDS) program and what participant groups perceived to be key issues during the first year of implementation. It addresses the role of PDSs in improving the quality of beginning teachers within a non-supportive state policy environment. The George Mason University Elementary program…

This paper explores the character of the teaching communities that have emerged in Michigan's charter and professional-development schools (PDS). It focuses on rhetorical constructions of what a teaching community is and how it is understood by those who are a part of it, with the assumption that teachers are subject to the cultural perceptions of…

This paper addresses the question of whether there is a clear destination for the Professional Development School (PDS) movement, examining whether perceived destinations are appropriate. The paper begins by outlining the commonly accepted four-part mission and the characteristics of PDSs; then it summarizes some of what is known about PDS…

Although professional-school models differ markedly, they generally share visions of how the school-university partnership can improve teacher education and schooling; commitment to shared decision making and funding; and new roles for university and school faculty. George Mason University's experience demonstrates that concentrating efforts…

Of 78 student teachers, 35 took a course on special education/mainstreaming, 20 participated in 1-semester professional development (PD) institutes, and 23 took a 2-semester professional development school practicum. The field-based PD programs increased student teacher contact with special needs students, improving attitudes toward inclusion and…

The creators of a "virtual" professional development school say that young children pass easily between "real" and "virtual" learning situations. Online learning features much more independent learning and far less teaching, with students often setting the learning agenda. Administrators have changing…