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CONGRESS TO CONSIDER NEW DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

We need your support now!

In the coming days, Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) will introduce the "Teacher and Principal Improvement Act," and Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) will introduce the "Great Teachers for Great Schools Act." These proposed bills take bold steps toward ensuring that every educator engages in effective professional learning every day so that every student achieves.

These bills:
  1. Redefine "Professional Development" in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). For too long, the definition of "professional development" in ESEA has not been conducive to good practice. The bills replace the current definition with one that aligns to NSDC's vision for effective professional learning. See the proposed definition of professional development in Sen. Reed's bill and Rep. Polis' bill.
  2. Provide funding to build educator and system capacity for professional learning and financial support for the implementation of effective professional learning.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Take the sample email message below, adapt its content to fit your specific situation, and send your letter to your representatives in the Senate and House using NSDC's custom "Soap Box" for professional learning web page.

To do so:
  1. Go to the NSDC Soapbox Alert page.
  2. Enter your zip code in the box labeled "Take Action Now."
  3. Enter a subject in the subject line, copy your personalized message in the box marked "Editable text," and type your name in the appropriate box below your letter.
  4. Fill out your "Sender Information," and select "Send Message" at the bottom of the page to send the message to your representatives.
We hope you will encourage your colleagues to take a stand in support of professional learning and write their representatives as well.

We are on the verge of a major legislative victory. With your help, we can improve the quality of education for every child in the country.

SAMPLE MESSAGES:

Sample message 1

Dear Senator/Representative:

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor Senator Jack Reed's "Teacher and Principal Improvement Act," or Congressman Jared Polis' "Great Teachers for Great Schools Act" to improve the quality of professional development across the U.S. The current definition of professional development in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is over two pages long, and features a list of approved activities. This definition, however, posits no vision for the purpose of professional development, and no means for assessing quality professional development.

Senator Reed and Congressman Polis will introduce their respective bills in the coming days. These pieces of legislation offer more concise, direct definitions of "professional development" in ESEA, and set the vision for quality professional development in American schools. The bills repurpose the existing Title II, Part A grant program to assist underperforming schools in building the capacity to implement high-quality professional development systems.

The 2007 McKinsey and Co. report, "How the World's Best Educational Systems Come Out on Top," identifies professional development as a major determining factor in successful school systems. They note that in Japan, teachers set aside time during the school day to solve problems in professional development groups, and throughout Finland, teachers dedicate one afternoon a week for rigorous professional development. NSDC's 2009 report, "Professional Learning in the Learning Profession," confirms that professional development is most effective when it is sustained over time.

In my own school, [Insert Your Professional Development Testimony Here – 1-2 sentences]

I urge you to cosponsor one of these important pieces of legislation.

Sample message 2

Dear Senator:

Everybody talks about supporting South Carolina's public school teachers, but nobody does much except add to their burdens. The only practical way for these teachers to improve their performance is to participate in professional development that prepares them to  more effectively address their students' learning problems. Yet, much of the professional development available to them is unfocused, not helpful, and even wasteful. Current federal law is partly to blame.

I am writing to ask you to cosponsor Senator Reed's "School Improvement through Teacher and Principal Quality Act" or Congressman Jared Polis' "Great Teachers for Great Schools Act." The legislation will provide more concise, direct definitions of "professional development" in ESEA and set the vision for quality, productive professional development in our public schools. The bills also repurpose the existing but weak Title II, Part A, grant program to support underperforming schools in implementing more effective professional development.

The 297 McKinsey and Company report, "How the World's Best Educational Systems Come Out on Top," identifies professional development as a major factor in successful school systems. The report notes that in Japan, there is time during the school day for teachers to meet in professional development groups that focus on solving student learning problems. Throughout Finland, teachers dedicate one afternoon a week for rigorous professional development. Variations of these approaches even occur in a few South Carolina schools, but the Reed/Polis legislation will enable many more to do so.

I urge you to be an original cosponsor of this important legislation.

Sincerely,
Hayes Mizell

Sample message 3

Dear Rep. Sessions:

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor Congressman Polis' "Great Teachers for Great Schools Act." This bill introduces a new definition for professional development. The current definition in ESEA does not focus professional development expenditures on the specific activities that have been shown to improve principal and teacher performance. The proposed definition will repurpose Title II, Part A grant program to assist underperforming schools to ensure every student experiences great teaching every day. It will also lay the foundation for one of the important conversations that will take place during the reauthorization process.

As a former teacher, Richardson ISD school board trustee, and current executive director of the National Staff Development Council, I assure you this change is needed to improve teacher and student performance. I hope you will honor my request.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Hirsh

Sample message 4

Dear Senator Cornyn:

I am writing to ask you to co-sponsor Senator Jack Reed's forthcoming bill: "Teacher and Principal Improvement Act." The bill introduces a new definition for professional development. The current definition in ESEA does not focus professional development expenditures on the specific activities that have been shown to improve principal and teacher performance. The proposed definition will repurpose Title II, Part A grant program to assist underperforming schools to ensure every student experiences great teaching every day. It will also lay the foundation for one of the important conversations that will take place during the reauthorization process.

As a former teacher, Richardson ISD school board trustee, and current executive director of the National Staff Development Council, I assure you this change is needed to improve teacher and student performance. As a constituent, I hope you will honor my request.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Hirsh

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