Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
Resources
February 2012
Vol. 33 No. 1
Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue.
Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
In This Issue
ARTICLES
From The Director
At least once a month, I get a call from an educator asking what percentage of the budget should the school system allocate to professional learning. In the most distressing […]
Help Us Improve Our Website
For almost two years, Learning Forward’s website has offered a database that highlights research demonstrating the links between professional learning, changes in educator practice, and student achievement. The Evidence Database […]
Put Your Team In The Spotlight
Created to honor excellence in professional learning, the Shirley Hord Learning Team Award recognizes a school team that successfully implements the cycle of continuous learning for professional learning that results […]
New Membership Options
We’re listening! Based on member input, Learning Forward has simplified its membership structure in a way that allows members — new and renewing — to make the choices that best […]
Bring A Visionary And A Realist Means Planning For The Long-term And Preparing For Tomorro
I started to wear glasses at a very young age and was always fascinated by whether my fellow bespectacled friends and family were nearsighted or farsighted. My investigation as a […]
Book Club
Putting Faces on the Data: What Great Leaders Do! By Lyn Sharratt and Michael Fullan Foreword by Sir Michael Barber Students are people, not data. Putting Faces on the Data […]
Gates Foundation Grant Supports Common Core State Standards Initiative
Learning Forward has received a grant of almost $1 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support states adopting and implementing Common Core State Standards. The grant will […]
Abstracts
The bottom line on excellence:Â A guide to investing in professional learning that increases educator performance and student results. By Joellen Killion and Stephanie Hirsh With the current challenges to school […]
learningforward.org
Expand You Network Want to expand your leadership skills, advocate for professional learning, or influence policy? Learning Forward affiliates provide members the opportunity to expand their professional development networks by […]
Cultural Proficiency
Face-to-face interaction is best for developing cultural literacy. (Available to the public.)
The Effective Principal
After reviewing its body of research and field experiences, The Wallace Foundation pinpoints five practices central to effective school leadership. This article is sponsored by The Wallace Foundation. (Available to the public.)
Does Your School Have A Doug Franklin?
Teachers' knowledge, skills, and attitudes are the real treasures that can enrich a professional learning community.
The 3 R's Of Learning Time
Schools that are part of the Learning School Alliance have found creative ways to embed time for collaborative learning into their school days. (Available to the public.)
Eyes On The Prize
A once-failing school makes creative use of resources to promote student achievement and meet its goal of reaching Adequate Yearly Progress.
Never Underestimate The Value of Connections
According to social capital theory, teacher conversations must be characterized by expertise, reciprocity, and relevance in order to best support teacher learning. By Wes Johnson
Tight Budget Loosens Creativity
Through videoconferencing, an elementary school in Texas finds a creative way to sustain its professional learning initiatives on a shrinking budget.
The Power of 2
Auburn School District in Washington state gets maximum impact from its resources by focusing on teachers' instructional leadership skills with help from an external partner.
841 Square Miles of Commitment
Duval County (Fla.) Public Schools' professional learning budget has almost doubled since 2003 -- with measurable results in student achievement. (Available to the public.)
Tool
The questions and guidelines below will help educators structure discussions and reflections about resource use. Purposes: Determine what current investments are made in professional learning. Determine adequacy (as measured by […]
The Bottom Line   on Excellence
With the current challenges to school funding, it is crucial that education agencies carefully examine their investments in professional learning.
Connecting the Standards for Professional Learning
Read the remaining content with membership access. Join or log in below to continue. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, […]
Essentials
New vision for teaching, Hear from the experts, Technology in the classroom, Results-oriented teaching, Evaluation reform, Distance education, Framework for development, Tackling turnover
From The Editor
“I wish I could (exercise more / read more / devote more time to learning), but I just don’t have time for that.” How many times do we say something […]
Recent Issues
APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING
April 2026
Cognitive science illuminates how people learn. This issue shows how professional learning can integrate its key principles to make the most of educators’ and students’ learning opportunities.Read the remaining content […]
LEARNING WITH AI
February 2026
Generative AI can be a powerful tool for professional learning design and implementation. This issue dives into strategies, examples, and pitfalls to avoid.Read the remaining content with membership access. Join […]
WHAT STUDENTS NEED NOW
December 2025
For all students to thrive, we need to understand who they are and what they need now. This issue looks at current challenges and opportunities and implications for educator learning.Read […]
LEARNING COMMUNITIES FOR LEADERS
October 2025
Leaders need opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with peers just as teachers do. This issue examines how to foster learning communities for principals, superintendents, curriculum directors, and other leaders.Read […]
