NSDC Policy Points
Our strategic goal of affecting policy around the most powerful forms of professional development was supported with a newsletter specifically created for policymakers. Made possible through funding from College Board,
NSDC Policy Points was sent to members of Congress and their staffs to help them develop greater understanding of government's role in supporting teacher learning that directly affects student achievement. Each issue examined a specific aspect of professional development and its relevance to policy making.
The quarterly newsletter is publicly accessible here for readers to access and download. Learning Forward invites members to share these newsletters with state-level policy makers and other key decision makers within their own spheres of influence.
- NSDC Policy Points, December 2009, Vol. 1, No. 4
Read about the importance of collaboration to professional development, both within and beyond education. See how a school district in Iowa uses collaborative professional learning to better serve students.
- NSDC Policy Points, July 2009, Vol. 1, No. 3
What does effective professional learning really look like in schools and what are the results? See NSDC's definition of professional learning come to life in three districts across the country.
- NSDC Policy Points, April 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2
The April issue explores specific aspects of NSDC's definition of professional development. To see three online videos illustrating the definition, visit NSDC's definition page.
- NSDC Policy Points, January 2009, Vol. 1, No. 1
The first issue establishes the importance of professional development for our nation and illuminates what we can learn from high-performing school systems in the U.S. and other countries. This issue excerpts a JSD interview with international reformer Michael Barber. Download the full JSD interview here.
Learning Forward believes every educator can make a difference in how teachers learn by having their voices heard about the definition of quality professional development and its link to student achievement. To read our definition of professional learning and stay up-to-date on the organization's advocacy work, visit the
Advocating for Professional Development page.
