Finally, the National Awards Program depends upon the availability of sufficient funds to support a peer review and site visit process. However, in the case of applicants from schools or LEAs in the insular areas, it is not known whether sufficient funds will be available to pay the costs of the peer review and on-site visits that are preconditions to national recognition. 600 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-0100. However, the official application notice for a discretionary grant competition is the notice published in the Federal Register. Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education.
Professional development plays an essential role in successful education reform.
Professional development serves as the bridge between where prospective and experienced educators are now and where they will need to be to meet the new challenges of guiding all students in achieving to higher standards of learning and development. Those within and outside schools need to work together to bring to bear the ideas, commitment and other resources that will be necessary to address important and complex educational issues in a variety of settings and for a diverse student body. Equitable access for all educators to such professional development opportunities is imperative. Moreover, professional development works best when it is part of a systemwide effort to improve and integrate the recruitment, selection, preparation, initial licensing, induction, ongoing development and support, and advanced certification of educators. High-quality professional development should incorporate all of the principles stated below.