• Ongoing, follow-up support in setting up demonstration classrooms as models for school and districts.

• Regular meetings involving ASCD Faculty members, district administrators,
principals, and other school leaders to assess and reflect on the program’s
implementation and progress toward achieving the goals and objectives.

• Ongoing, follow-up work with principals and other administrators to plan support for teachers and teacher leaders in implementing specific instructional practices.

• Customized seminars and miniconferences to support instructional and leadership practices.

• ASCD Professional Development Coaches’ follow-up with teacher leaders and administrators to support them in planning, leading, and implementing job-embedded professional development that is ongoing and sustainable.

ASCD Professional Development Coaches and Faculty members support teacher leaders and administrators as they learn how to lead effective, school-based professional learning in their focus areas. To help guarantee that they build local capacity, PD Coaches focus on ensuring that instructional and leadership practices are sustainable. Coaches are also available to audit professional development programs to assure that they align with school improvement plans.

What Are ASCD’s Models for Professional Development?

ASCD knows that educators learn new strategies and techniques and master the art of teaching and leadership in many ways. For teachers and leaders to be their best and to sustain practices, the environment must be one of differentiated professional learning that is supported through institutional structures that allow for risk-taking and collegial relationships. Capacity-building professional development promotes these structures, processes, and policies. To support ongoing learning and sustainability, ASCD’s professional development work includes the use of books, online products, and practical application tools. ASCD offers three different models of capacity-building professional development.

Consortium Model. A consortium is a group of districts or schools interested in working together to build local capacity. ASCD Faculty members guide teams— which include district or state-level administrators, school-based administrators, and teacher leaders—as they learn content and effective professional development practices.