This paper presents a review of the research and professional literature on staff development, an analysis of the characteristics associated with effective staff development programs, and recommendations for the design of effective staff development programs based on that research. The studies cited deal with: (1) the functions of staff development programs; (2) characteristics of a coherent program of staff development; (3) essential elements of effective staff development programs; (4) features of effective staff development programs; (5) a research-based process for designing inservice education; (6) a model of an effective tool for analyzing the evaluation staff development programs; and (8) assessing and improving the effectiveness of a staff development program viewed as a curriculum development problem. Thirty-three references are included. (JD)