This report is the result of the First Annual Forum of the National Institute for Science Education (NISE) held in Rosslyn, Virginia, on March 18-19, 1997. The purposes of the forum were to make relevant professional audiences aware of NISE work and, just as importantly, to gain those audiences' perspectives on and participation in NISE work. Professional development is explored as one of the vital issues in mathematics and science reform. This report contains the content, process, and discussions of the following elements of the forum: (1) a framework for the design of science and mathematics education professional development currently being developed by the NISE Professional Development team; (2) cases of professional development; (3) the Forum itself as an application of the design framework; and (4) building and supporting a science and mathematics education professional development learning community. (Author/KHR)