Learning Forward
Equity and excellence in teaching and learning.
RESEARCH
Study explores how teachers spend professional learning time
By Elizabeth Foster
Categories: Data, Evaluation & impactAugust 2023
At Learning Forward, we are well aware that there is wide variation in how much time teachers have for professional learning. Research finds that only half (50.9%) of educators have any released time from teaching to participate in professional development (Garcia, 2019), and there is variation in how that time is spent. A recent RAND report provides a closer look at the time teachers spend in professional learning and its impact on their practice and classrooms. The findings offer some valuable insights for professional learning leaders at all levels and suggest avenues for further research. The study Zuo, G., Doan, S. & Kaufman, J.H. (2023). How do teachers spend professional learning time, and does it connect to classroom practice? Findings from the 2022 American Instructional
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References
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M.E., Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute.
Desimone, L.M. (2009). Improving impact studies of teachers’ professional development: Toward better conceptualizations and measures. Educational Researcher, 38(3), 181-199.
Garcia, E. & Weiss, E. (2019). The role of early career supports, continuous professional development, and learning communities in the teacher shortage. Economic Policy Institute.
Garrett, R., Zhang, Q., Citkowicz, M., & Burr, L. (2021). How Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning are associated with teacher instruction and student achievement: A meta-analysis. Center on Great Teachers and Leaders at the American Institutes for Research.
Learning Forward. (2022). Standards for Professional Learning. Author.
Shuls, J.V. & Flores, J.M. (2020). Improving teacher retention through support and development. Journal of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, 4(1).
Elizabeth Foster is the senior vice president of research and strategy at Learning Forward. She leads the organization’s research efforts for partnerships, programs, and fundraising. Elizabeth co-wrote the Standards for Professional Learning (2022) with Tracy Crow and now facilitates learning sessions about the standards and develops resources that support their use and implementation.
Categories: Data, Evaluation & impact
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