Professional Learning
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Strengthening Systems
national education standards from nagc
Research-grounded framework for policies, programs, and services that support Highly Capable students.
what does ‘effective’ look like?
Research syntheses identify specific design features that make professional learning effective (content-focused, active, sustained, supported by coaching/collaboration, and tied to classroom practice)
Protecting teacher retention
In North Carolina, teachers’ reported working conditions—including a ‘professional learning and collaboration’ factor—were positively associated with school-level teacher retention, with stronger associations in high-poverty schools.
Professional learning systems are the natural next focus for WaCoalition, following improvements in identification policy. Without evidence based and supported instructional capacity, even well-designed frameworks and equity-focused reforms will fall short of their intended impact.
Strengthening professional learning systems supports educators, improves consistency across districts, and helps ensure all students— including highly capable students —have access to instruction that supports their healthy growth and development.