MetLife Foundation Supports Dissemination and Implementation of Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning

DALLAS—June 12, 2012—Learning Forward has received a $350,000 grant from MetLife Foundation to encourage and enable the implementation of standards in professional learning to increase effective teaching and collaborative learning, particularly in high-needs schools. This grant will help Learning Forward and allied organizations build on past MetLife Foundation support to further the valuable work of three initiatives: the Learning School Alliance; implementation of Common Core State Standards; and exploration of effective professional learning practices in other nations. The grant also supports an examination of the implications for practice of findings from the annual MetLife Survey of the American Teacher.

According to Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation, the new award continues the foundation’s commitment to increasing student achievement through collaborative leadership and effective teaching. “We are working to increase the number of students who are well-prepared for college and careers as evidenced by success in the first year of postsecondary education,” said White. “We understand the importance of high standards for professional learning for educators. Learning Forward’s leadership helps policymakers, professional development providers, and educators at all levels assure the best use and greatest impact of limited resources,” he said.

“MetLife Foundation’s long-term support of standards and high-quality professional learning has been critical to our ability to reach key audiences and impact both policy and practice,” says Learning Forward Executive Director Stephanie Hirsh. “This award will allow us to ensure that our work in Common Core implementation support can impact practitioners through practical tools and resources.” The emphasis on research in international education is equally exciting, she noted. In addition, Hirsh said, “our work in connecting MetLife’s annual survey data to professional learning has enabled us to advance our understanding of the needs and concerns of educators on the ground.”

Through the new grant, Learning Forward will create and disseminate four professional learning modules to support implementation of the Common Core State Standards in states, districts, schools, and classrooms. Learning Forward will also develop a process to formally recognize and showcase schools within and beyond the Learning School Alliance that are meeting the Standards for Professional Learning. In addition, the organization will continue to research professional learning as a global issue, creating dissemination vehicles to investigate the topics that can inform worldwide dialogue about effective professional learning practices.

A recent set of Learning Forward’s four newsletters addresses findings from the MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Teachers, Parents and the Economy. They are all available to the public:

  • Tools for Learning Schools (Summer 2012): “Research-based Practices Forge Strong Family and Community Partnerships,”
  • The Leading Teacher (May 2012): “Build Higher Levels of Job Satisfaction,”
  • The Learning Principal (Spring 2012): “A Fresh Perspective: School Counselors Prove Valuable Partners in Understanding Student Needs,”
  • The Learning System (Spring 2012): “Community Schools Boost Teacher and Principal Satisfaction,”