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Study of Math and Science Professional Development Programs
Improving Evaluation of Professional Development
Final Report
Cross-State Analysis of Evaluations of Professional Development for Mathematics and Science Teachers
This final report covers the review of 41 evaluation studies from a sample of 25 professional development initiatives across the U.S. The report primarily addresses evaluation findings from professional development activities conducted during the period 2004 through 2007. Among the key findings are
- One-third of evaluation studies reported measurable effects of teacher professional development;
- Significant effects of professional development programs for teachers of math and science were found when the programs include focus on content knowledge in the math and science subject areas plus training and follow-up pedagogical content knowledge;
- One-third of the programs reviewed did have well-developed evaluations that produced findings with measurable effects on student achievement or change in instructional practices;
- Smaller programs typically had to choose a few measures and methods of evaluation; and
- Measurement of change in teaching practices in the classroom is a promising outcome worthy of further use and expansion to other PD studies
Year 2 Study Results
Analysis of the Quality of Professional Development Programs for Mathematics and Science Teachers: Findings from a Cross-State Study, Year 2 Report
Based on a study sample of 25 professional development initiatives across 14 states that are representative of the current leading efforts to improve the teaching of math and science in public schools, the report addresses the following questions:
- What is the quality of professional development across the nominated sample of programs? What is the extent of variation in quality?
- What are the main program characteristics contributing to high ratings for quality that can be identified and replicated in future program design and development?
- What evaluation results and evidence were reported? What were the major outcomes?
- To what extent were the evaluation methods described in proposals carried out?
- When were evaluation findings reported to stakeholders? How were they disseminated?
The report provides an initial analysis of what evaluation results were reported as the end of 2006. For report, click here.
Initial Study Results
In November 2005, CCSSO convened a group of education specialists to be members of a review panel to examine the documents submitted by the 27 nominated math/science programs from the 15 participating states. The review panel used the rubric and its supplementary guide to sift through the documents and artifacts presented to CCSSO. Results from fifteen of the seventeen programs reviewed are presented here.
Evaluation Tools for Professional Development
CCSSO compiled a listing of currently available tools to help in evaluation. The tools were selected based on relevance to professional development in mathematics and/or science and accessibility. Please contact Nina de las Alas at ninaa@ccsso.org if you have any questions or suggestions.
PD Program Quality Rubric
The rubric is designed as part of a study to improve the evaluation of professional development programs for K-12 teachers of mathematics and science. It is an assessment tool with which state and local educational agencies can profile nominated programs according to research criteria on high-quality professional programs and a means for generating information for cross-state or cross-district and multi-program analyses. It is designed to work in the context of a program review panel and may be implemented to review professional development programs at the proposal stage(intended), to check on progress for programs already funded (enacted) as well as to document how the programs are being evaluated. The rubric is written from the perspective of its impact to teacher/school or district official who participate in the professional development program or activity.
Guide to PD Program Quality Rubric The guide clarifies the terminology used in the rubric and provides guidelines in scoring based on examples of texts from program documents.
Contacts for Programs Cited in Final Report
Research on High-Quality Professional Development and Effective Evaluation – Annotated Bibliography (updated April 2008)
The following annotated bibliography provides citation and brief summaries for select research reports in the areas of evaluation tools and designs, research on particular approaches to professional development, evaluations of professional development programs, scientific research design in education, related general references and online resources. |
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document last updated 5/2/2008
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