Effective advocacy for staff development requires actions to develop support from in- and outside the school district. Advocacy involves vision, commitment, outreach, good planning, proof of program quality and effectiveness, alignment of staff development and school district goals, and understanding of client concerns. (SM)

Argues that staff developers can have a significant role in structuring programs for cultural diversity in the schools, and explains how the Cambridge (Massachusetts) school district's commitment to multicultural education led to changes in the curriculum and in the roles of the staff developers over several years. (GLR)

Discusses the importance of values education programs in the public schools, with some emphasis on the program in the Baltimore County Public Schools. The article cites authorities from other school districts, higher education, and educational associations, noting the important role of staff development and community involvement. (SM)

Explores the origins, characteristics, and objectives of peer coaching in faculty development, looking at its two basic forms (coaching led by experts and reciprocal coaching). The article presents theoretical concepts and proposes directions for future research, indicating points to consider when establishing a peer coaching program. (SM)

Methods staff developers used to improve the reading program at a Greenwich, Connecticut, elementary school are discussed. The entire staff of the school was involved in developing the new reading program, which focused on increasing teachers' expectations of student learning, use of diagnostic teaching, and other techniques. (PP)

This article explains how a year-long, district-wide staff development program, which focused on developing teachers' critical thinking skills, was carried out. The program was planned and directed by specially-trained local teachers who familiarized their colleagues with Benjamin S. Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. (PP)

Recent developments in Ontario, Canada, are used to identify and discuss issues related to teacher induction and teacher education reform efforts in North America. (Author)

A Teacher Corps project conducted by the Edgewood Independent School District and Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas) is described. A classroom teacher at each participating school is trained to lead professional development activities at his or her school. Teacher involvement in designing professional development at each school is emphasized.…

This article describes a collaborative public school-university project that provided telecommunications training to elementary teachers and students. Project development, implementation, and evaluation are briefly discussed. The staff development model which was utilized is described, and recommendations are made for future telecommunications…

Staff development programs should be established by using a set of assumptions grounded in research and best practice. The article examines faulty assumptions that guide too many programs, then presents 14 new assumptions that should guide effective practice and successful staff development. (SM)

This article describes services the staff development system will need to be successful, presenting the structures for governance and organization and illustrating the interface of the system with the needs of individuals, professionals, schools, and school districts in curriculum, instruction, and technology. (SM)

Extensive practice and research in program evaluation have led to this eight-step process that a professional developer can use to determine a program's effectiveness and strengthen the program as it evolves. An unbiased, systematic process of evaluation can help justify putting resources into professional learning and make it easier to determine…

The QUILT (Questioning and Understanding to Improve Learning and Thinking) program tested the hypothesis that well-designed staff development would positively affect teachers and students. QUILT increased and sustained teacher use of classroom questioning techniques to produce higher levels of student learning and thinking. QUILT participants…

When a university and a major urban district pair up, teachers learn more about science content and how to develop an inquiry-based classroom. More than 8,000 Detroit, Mich., students have felt the change--and show the results in improved science test scores.

A Colorado school district collaborated with local university personnel to plan, implement, and evaluate a staff development program addressing instructional improvement. The project trained upper elementary and junior high teachers in content area reading instruction and provided follow-up coaching as they implemented the new strategies. (SM)