At one time staff development was synonymous with sit and get sessions in which relatively passive participants were made aware of the latest ideas regarding teaching and learning from so called experts. Today staff development not only includes high quality ongoing training with intensive follow-up and support, but also other growth-promoting processes such as study groups, action research, and peer coaching, to name a few. In addition, staff development is no longer viewed as something that is only necessary for teachers. We now recognize that everyone who affects student learning, from the board of education, central office and school-based administrators, teachers, to classified support staff, and parents must continually improve their knowledge and skills in order to ensure student learning. Likewise, we now understand that that staff development is not the exclusive responsibility of someone given the title of staff developer, rather it is the responsibility of superintendents, central office and school-based administrators, and teachers, among others.

-National Staff Development Council (NSDC)

In Prince George's County Public Schools, we strive to provide the teachers, administrators, support personnel, and other staff with the highest levels of professional development. To this end, the National Staff Development Standards are used to guide and inform our process for designing and delivering programs, initiatives, and learning opportunities for the staff of Prince George's County Public Schools. The links below can be used as resources for school staffs and others as they plan for staff development:

	The National Staff Development Council Standards for Staff Development
	The NSDC Standards provide schools and school districts guidance to improve the quality of their staff development efforts so that student learning will in turn be increased. These standards promote ongoing efforts to increase the levels of professional development and student learning. This link also provides ideas on how to use these standards at your school site.

	Models for Staff Development
	As the NSDC standards suggest, effective staff development uses a variety of staff development approaches to accomplish the goals of improving instruction and student success. Use this link to explore a menu of options for professional development.

	A Paradigm Shift in Staff Development
	Results-driven education, systems thinking, and constructivism are producing profound changes in how staff development is conceived and implemented. Through this link, you can investigate these changes as proposed by Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the National Staff Development Council.

Click here to access the Department of Staff Development