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In a recent report titled, Building Professional Development to Support New Student Assessment Systems, Stephanie Hirsh, executive director of Learning Forward, reminds us that all the innovations and new data points in the world won’t improve student outcomes unless the teachers responsible for student learning have their own learning needs met.  We know that key elements for successful, continuous professional learning must include collective responsibility, time and support, use of data, collaboration, classroom-based support, and access to external expertise.  Deep understanding and thoughtful planning will be required of all educators at all levels in the state and school district if new assessment systems are to transform instruction rather than to act as another add-on to a teacher’s day.

We know (and have known for years) that the highest performing school systems focus on recruiting, mentoring, and developing great teachers.  These systems also know that professional development is a career-long imperative.  New assessment systems and Common Core Standards will provide teachers with powerful new resources to guide all students toward college and career readiness.  However, the success of these new systems will rely on the ability of educators using them to improve instruction and support student learning.  Planning for essential professional development should be factored into the construction and deployment of these new assessment systems. 

The Learning Forward report makes eight recommendations to ensure healthy professional development infrastructure in every district and school:

• Adopt common standards for professional development
• Create a new school year and daily schedules that provide sufficient time to support ongoing school-based professional development
• Create a master implementation plant that stages professional development, standards, and assessment
• Establish teacher advisory committees
• Leverage state requirements for Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP) and School Improvement Plans
• Provide teaches appropriate resources
• Establish professional development academies
• Adopt new licensure and relicensure requirements

Implementing all these recommendations will require strong leadership and new collaborations with stakeholders across the community both within and outside the school district.  However, as outlined in this excellent report, we know what we need to do; we just need the will and the energy to follow through to support all our teachers in their own professional growth.  And, they in turn will ensure that all our students achieve to their highest levels.