Professional development is important if reform is to succeed. Delivering high-quality profes sional development is something that we as a nation know how to do at least for those teachers who are interested and when there are sufficient funds. The SSIs typically used a mixed professional development strategy, and at least 9 employed all three approaches. In spite of the strong efforts made by the SSIs, the professional development system , such as it is including state, district, and school policies related to professional development is in need of restructuring. As long as professional development systems in the states remain unchanged, the SSIs, and the states, will face difficult trade-offs between working with large numbers of teachers superficially or working with small numbers intensively.
Instructional materials are basic to what happens in schools.
Yet only 6 SSIs focus on the instructional materials used in mathematics and science classrooms as a major part of their strategy. Of those, we estimate that 4 can be rated strong or very strong in their efforts. Just 5 SSIs use a model schools strategy, and we would rate only 2 as doing a strong or very strong job. The evaluation team continues to believe this is a high-risk strategy. It requires a very careful plan for dissemination and scaling up.