It seeks to do so by extending the use of writing in all disciplines, by identifying, celebrating, and enhancing the professional role of successful teachers, and providing schools, colleges, and universities with an effective professional development model. Working as partners, universities and schools can articulate and promote effective school reform. Successful teachers of writing can be identified and, while sharing their expertise, be prepared to teach other teachers. Summer Institutes should involve teachers from all levels of instruction and all disciplines. Writing is as fundamental to learning in science, mathematics, and history as it is to learning in English and the language arts.
Writing needs constant attention and repetition from the early grades through the university.
As the process of writing can best be understood by engaging in this process, teachers of writing should write. Real change in classroom practice doesn't happen all at once, but rather, over time. Effective professional developments are ongoing and systematic, bringing teachers together throughout their careers to examine successful practices and new developments. What is known about the teaching of writing comes not only from the research but from the practice of those who teach writing. At that time there was growing recognition that American students were entering universities unprepared to do the writing that was expected of them and that most classroom teachers, elementary through university, had not been prepared to teach writing.