Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
841 Square Miles of Commitment
Districtwide plan makes professional learning a priority
By Learning Forward
February 2012
Vol. 33 No. 1
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Professional Development Funding
| Duval County Public Schools | |||
| school year | total operational expenditures | professional development expenditures * | % of total |
| 2003-04 | $951,117,800 | $19,949,207 | 2.10% |
| 2004-05 | $1,000,419,319 | $29,833,249 | 2.98% |
| 2005-06 | $1,090,396,257 | $31,962,937 | 2.93% |
| 2006-07 | $977,194,172 | $33,652,788 | 3.44% |
| 2007-08 | $1,017,532,009 | $37,326,887 | 3.67% |
| 2008-09 | $1,012,269,221 | $37,799,841 | 3.73% |
| 2009-10 | $1,027,831,047 | $39,530,587 | 3.85% |
| 2010-11 | $1,046,082,332 | $38,275,731 | 3.66% |
| * These numbers underestimate the total cost of professional learning in Duval County because they only cover the costs of professional development for teachers, not for administrators or noninstructional personnel.Source: Duval County Public Schools. |
2009-10 professional learning fund distribution
Total professional learning funds = $39,535,121
Source: Duval County Public Schools.
How To Find Time To Learn
At Holiday Hill Elementary School, teachers find time for professional learning in several ways:
- WOW (Working on the Work) Wednesdays. One day a week, the principal and assistant principal meet with a grade-level team to look at student work, analyze student data, focus on differentiated instruction, or engage in other learning.
- Early morning minilessons. From 7:30 to 8:25, teachers can participate in minilessons to strengthen their practice in literacy, mathematics, and science. Lessons are taught by district coaches and the assistant principal, a former literacy coach.
- Early dismissal time gives teachers the opportunity to engage in professional learning after students go home.
- Class coverage. The principal and assistant principal cover teachers’ classrooms so that they can observe fellow teachers practicing new instructional strategies.
Duval County Public Schools
Jacksonville, Fla.
Number of schools: 172
Enrollment: 124,288
Staff: 7,300
Racial/ethnic mix:
White: 38.9%
Black: 44.5%
Hispanic: 8.3%
Asian/Pacific Islander: 4.5%
Native American: 0.2%
Other: 3.6%
Limited English proficient: 3.1%
Languages spoken: Spanish, Burmese, Myanmasa, Arabic, Haitian Creole
Free/reduced lunch: 54.3%
Special education: 10.6%
Contact: Dawn Wilson, executive director for professional development
Email: wilsond@duvalschools.org
References
Archibald, S., Coggshall, J.G., Croft, A., & Goe, L. (2011, February). High-quality professional development for all teachers: Effectively allocating resources. Washington, DC: National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality. Available at www.tqsource.org/publications/HighQualityProfessionalDevelopment.pdf.
Duval County Public Schools. (2012a). Core beliefs. Available at www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/.
Duval County Public Schools. (2012b). DCPS professional development vision. Available at www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/departments/prodev/.
Duval County Public Schools. (2012c). Duval County public schools five year comprehensive professional development plan 2010-2015. Available at www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/departments/prodev/CURRENT%20-%205%20Year%20PD%20Plan%20Revised%20with%202010%20Board%20Policy.pdf.
Florida Department of Education. (2010). Florida’s professional development system evaluation, protocol system, third cycle, 2010-14. Available at www.teachinflorida.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=9vw9t6qYuaA%3d&tabid=66.
Hess, F.M., Palmieri, S., & Scull, J. (2010). America’s best (and worst) cities for school reform: Attracting entrepreneurs and change agents. Washington, DC: Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Available at www.edexcellence.net/publications/americas-best-and-worst.html.
Learning Forward. (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.
Schultz Center. (2008). The Outcomes Research Project and standards-based literacy impact analysis year IV 2007-2008 (Evaluation Brief). Available at www.schultzcenter.org/pdf/orp_08.pdf.
Slabine, N.A. (2011). Evidence of effectiveness. Oxford, OH: Learning Forward. Available at www.learningforward.org/advancing/EvidenceOfEffectiveness.pdf.
Travers, J. & Ferris, K. (2011, September). Realigning resources for district success: Duval County Public Schools final report. Watertown, MA: Education Resource Strategies. Available at https://erstrategies.org/resources/details/realigning_resources_for_district_success/.
Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.
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