Standards for Professional Learning in District 57

The revised Standards for Staff Development (2001), adopted by the National Staff Development Council and outlined below, drive the planning and implementation of professional development in District 57.
Staff development standards provide direction for designing a professional development experience that ensures educators acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. Staff development must be results-driven, standards-based, and job-embedded.

Learning Communities

Staff development that improves the learning of all students organizes adults into learning communities whose goals are aligned with those of the school and district.

Leadership

Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires skillful school and district leaders who guide continuous instructional improvement.

Resources

Staff development that improves the learning of all students requires resources to support adult learning and collaboration.

Data-driven

Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses disaggregated student data to determine adult learning priorities, monitor progress, and help sustain continuous improvement.

Evaluation

Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses multiple sources of information to guide improvement and demonstrate its impact.

Research-based

Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to apply research to decision making.

Designs and strategies

Staff development that improves the learning of all students uses learning strategies appropriate to the intended goal.

Learning

Staff development that improves the learning of all students applies knowledge about human learning and change.

Collaboration skills

Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with the knowledge and skills to collaborate.

Equity

Staff development that improves the learning of all students prepares educators to understand and appreciate all students, create safe, orderly, and supportive learning environments, and hold high expectations for their academic achievement.

Quality teaching

Staff development that improves the learning of all students deepens educators' content knowledge, provides them with research-based instructional strategies to assist students in meeting rigorous academic standards, and prepares them to use various types of classroom assessments appropriately.

Family involvement

Staff development that improves the learning of all students provides educators with knowledge and skills to involve families and other stakeholders appropriately.