Approved by the NCTE Executive Committee, November 2006
- Professional development of teachers/faculty is a central factor leading to student success.
- Professional development treats teachers/faculty members as the professionals they are.
- Professional development supports teachers/faculty at all levels of expertise; its value is confirmed by external validation.
- Professional development relies on a rich mix of resources, including a theoretical and philosophical base; a research base; and illustrations of good practices.
- Professional development can take many different forms and employs various modes of engagement.
- The best models of professional development—best in the sense of enhancing first, teacher practice leading to second, student learning—are characterized by sustained activities, by engagement with administrators, and by community-based learning.
- Professional development is systematically reviewed with evidence of efficacy provided by a review process including multiple stakeholders and NCTE’s own research.
This position statement may be printed, copied, and disseminated without permission from NCTE.