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NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM FOR MODEL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The National Awards Program for Model Professional Development honors schools (and districts) for their comprehensive efforts to increase teacher and student learning through professional development. But the awards program has another purpose as well. It promotes these successful efforts as models that others can learn from. As Secretary of Education Richard Riley explained in launching the program, "We need to do more to professionalize teaching. As we ask more and more of today’s teachers, we must provide the necessary support to enable them to teach to high standards. High quality professional development is one critical component to meet this challenge."

How to Apply

When you think about what your own school has been able to accomplish for students, is there a story of successful professional development to tell? Are there clear relationships between teacher learning and measurable achievement for all students? Can you point to particular things that helped to shift the culture in your school to one that is relentless about learning – for students and for staff? Will other schools be able to apply your experience to their own?

 

 

To be considered for national recognition, applicants should be able to demonstrate that their program of professional development is a comprehensive model, for any grades from pre-K through 12, that exemplifies the Department of Education’s Mission and Principles of Professional Development. In other words, award-winning programs will have professional growth as an integral part of school culture, address the needs of all students served, and promote professional development practices that ensure equity by being free of bias and accessible to all educators. Recognition under the awards program is based on how well applicants demonstrate that their professional development programs result in increased student learning.

Award applications and information about award winners are available online. Check the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site for teachers:

www.ed.gov/inits/teachers/96-97/

www.ed.gov/inits/teachers/97-98/

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