NAPDS Releases What it Means to be a PDS: The Nine Essentials, 2nd Ed.
As a member of the National Coalition of Educators, AACTE announces the release of the second edition of What it Means to be a Professional Development School: Nine Essentials, published by fellow member coalition member, the National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS). AACTE shares NAPDS’s goal to support high quality teacher education through effective professional development and are looking forward to collaborating with them on projects aimed at achieving that goal.
The National Association for Professional Development Schools (NAPDS) recently announced the publication of its policy statement, What it Means to be a Professional Development School (PDS): The Nine Essentials (2nd Edition), a culmination of several years’ worth of work by the association’s Nine Essentials Committee. The committee worked to identify the relevance of the essentials, which were originally published in 2008, and how they are used in the field by schools of education and P-12 schools. The document brings to light an updated and robust version of the Nine Essentials grounded in key concepts and educational research.
The NAPDS committee consisted of eight individuals who served as the primary authors of the document. Additionally, the committee worked with nearly 50 individuals representing both P-12 schools and universities nationwide. Through focus groups, collaborative work groups and symposia, the expertise provided by these professionals contributed greatly to the development of the final document. The publication of this report represents the beginning of the NAPDS “Year of the Nine Essentials.” From March 2021 through February 2022, NAPDS will host monthly webinars and release monthly podcasts that will focus on using the essentials to develop high quality teacher education programs.
A PDS is a reciprocal learning relationship between universities and P-12 schools based on the medical school/teaching hospital model. Teacher candidates preparing to become new teachers work side by side with mentor teachers similar to a residency in the medical field.
For additional information, visit the NAPDS Nine Essentials website.
Tags: AACTE partner organizations, teacher quality
