Most districts support teachers' investment in their professional knowledge and skills.
Teachers take advantage of classes sponsored by their districts, work on advanced certificates or degrees, and attend workshops and summer institutes. Yet, these efforts often have little impact on student learning because they tend to be disjointed, unfocused, and offer teachers few opportunities to learn by doing and reflecting on practice with their colleagues. In other words, professional development frequently lacks connections to practice and to high standards of student achievement or teacher development. Changing these patterns in professional development is quite a challenge. However, focused professional development that is based on high standards of teaching and learning and that profoundly changes practice is essential to improved teaching and better student achievement.