The NSDC Board of Trustees encourages school districts to dedicate at least 10% of their budgets to staff development and at least 25% of an educator’s work time to learning and collaborating with colleagues.

NSDC releases the Standards for Staff Development for three grade levels: elementary, middle, and high school.

NSDC launches its first Academy for Staff Developers.

NSDC Executive Director Dennis Sparks is now a full-time employee, as is newly hired Associate Director Stephanie Hirsh.

Georgia and Illinois recognized as first affiliates.

The Lynne Chidley Staff Development Foundation is established.

Dennis Sparks becomes part-time NSDC executive director and editor of the Journal of Staff Development.

The first issue of the Journal of Staff Development is published on the theme secondary school staff development programs.

NSDC is incorporated and chartered as a nonprofit organization in Ohio.

Betty Dillon-Peterson, a staff developer in Lincoln, NE, organizes the first conference on staff development in Racine, WI. This initial group of 17 representatives of urban school districts from around the country later formed the National Staff Development Council.