This document presents the revised guidelines for staff development in Mississippi, as mandated by the Education Reform Act of 1982, produced by the State Department of Education in consultation with various state-appointed commissions and 16 school districts that participated in a pilot testing program. These guidelines are to be used by all school districts in Mississippi for designing, developing, and implementing a comprehensive staff development program or modifying, if necessary, an ongoing staff development program. The document begins with a citation of pertinent state law from the 1983 Supplement of the Mississippi Code, followed by an explanatory preface. Thereafter, guidelines are provided for the following areas: definition of staff development, process of approval, funding, basic requirements, and criteria for reviewing plans. These criteria include: (1) goals and objectives, (2) assessment of needs, (3) collaborative structures, (4) staff reward system, (5) program implementation strategies (including staff training and staff support activities), (6) administrative support, (7) successful completion criteria, (8) program evaluation strategies, and (9) program review and revision. The guidelines conclude with a note on the amendment process. (TE)