What does the economic stimulus plan mean for professional development?
March 13 2009 by 
Stephanie Hirsh
The Department of Education has outlined
initial guidelines for three components of American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) funding: the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, Title I, and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). You can find detailed
information about the guidelines and the distribution of funds through
www.ed.gov.
In addition to distributing monies quickly to avert layoffs and stimulate job creation, a key principle that will guide the use of ARRA funds is improving student achievement through school improvement and reform. The Department is emphasizing improvements in teacher effectiveness and equitable distribution of qualified teachers as well as providing support for the nation's lowest performing schools. Specifically, the legislation identifies developing teacher leaders as coaches and instructional leaders as one possible strategy. Therefore, these funds have the potential to significantly impact the reach and quality of professional learning for all educators. Given the time constraints surrounding this legislation, the funds must be used on one-time investments vs. programs with ongoing commitments. Most importantly, these funds must be applied in ways that demonstrate to the investors --the public -- a significant improvement in teaching and learning in schools.
In consideration of these parameters, NSDC has outlined some strategies that we believe have potential to meet these expectations:
- Prepare more instructional coaches by developing the knowledge and skills necessary to support improved educator practice and student learning.
- Prepare more teacher leaders to advance the NSDC definition of professional development.
- Contract with one or more external consultants to provide one-on-one technical assistance to principals to create new master schedules that enable collaborative teacher teams to engage in professional learning two or more times each week.
- Identify and support demonstration sites to serve as models of excellence in implementing effective professional learning.
- Provide two-years of intensive coaching and instructional leadership support for principals in low-performing schools.
- Provide two-years of intensive technical assistance and support for leadership teams in low-performing schools.
- Conduct a Professional Learning Audit; organize a local task force to critically review and assess the purpose, form, and results from professional development in the school district. Similarly, administer and use the results of NSDC's Standards Assessment Inventory.
- Organize, facilitate, and support volunteer teams of teachers who want to pilot the continuous cycle of improvement described in NSDC's definition of professional development. Contract with one or more external consultants or institutions of higher education to document and assess each team's experience.
Of course,
Posted in Stephanie Hirsh | 
Mar 13, 2009 at 10:27 AM
I am delighted to see NSDC take the lead in assisting school districts on how to use effectively the ARRA monies they will be receiving. Stephanie, NSDC's suggestions are straight foward and ought to give guidance to central office administrators and school principals that will be of assistance. I hope NSDC will consider as many ways as possible to send this message to school districts. Maybe collaborating with AASA and PDK and our state affiliates to share the message. There are going to be many businesses who are going to work hard to "sell" products to districts. If districts do not see these allocation of these funds as a great opportunity to engage every educator in effecitve professional learning, the monies may not ever be used in a way that willimpact the learning of every student.
Mar 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM
I agree with Kay. This is the time for an NSDC full court press on the definition of high quality professional learning. Every so-called PD provider in the country will be salivating over the stimulus money, and they will be selling lots of "one shot deals" to districts. Anything that NSDC can do to help districts build capacity for high quality professional learning would be appreciated.
Mar 21, 2009 at 3:38 AM
NSDC has always been an advocate of quality professional development, so I hope that government officials, state boards, local districts, etc. will seek their advice on types of assistance that would be most beneficial. As we are seeing in big business, there are many who hope to profit from government handouts, bailouts, bonuses, etc., so we have an imperative to provide quality in return for any monies that we may receive. It's not enough to have a school improvement plan only; we need to ensure that professional development -- whether it be one-shot, two-shot, or fully embedded -- targets areas of need and offers constructive suggestions for implementation. May you, NSDC, continue to be leaders in this area.
Mar 31, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Thanks for this timely information, Stephanie....it will give affiliate leaders and members an idea about what to say/do in their districts/schools/offices when they are being asked about what to do that will making a meaningful difference. The conversation this afternoon (Affilaite Leaders) was also very helpful. We so appreciate your voice in the room (or cab) when important decisions are being made.
Feb 16, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Thanks for this timely information, Stephanie...
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