A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

"Building Bridges"

National Awards Program
for Model Professional Development

Application Packet

U.S. Department of Education

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Overview

As part of the continuing effort to honor excellence in education, the National Awards Program for Model Professional Development will identify and disseminate information about high-quality professional development efforts which provide evidence of improved student learning and increased teacher effectiveness. Since the focus of this competition is on development programs for teachers and other educators in pre-K - 12 settings, only individual schools (public or private) or school districts may apply. However, partnerships with other entities, especially higher education institutions, are encouraged. Recognition in this awards program is based on how well applicants address criteria in three areas: 1) evidence of success; 2) program quality; and 3) usefulness to others. Subsequent recognition may focus on higher education and other education personnel.

QUESTIONS

Our goal is to identify a wide variety of pre-K - 12 professional development efforts that are aligned with the attached U.S. Department of Education Mission and Principles of Professional Development. Because the purpose of the Mission and Principles is to promote excellence in teaching and learning, the most important criterion for eligibility is evidence of improved student learning and increased teacher effectivness. Consistent with the Mission and Principles, those schools and districts have professional growth as an integral part of school culture, address the needs of ALL students, and have professional development practices that ensure equity by being accessible to all educators and free of bias.

Responses to all of the following four questions should be limited to a total of 2500 words, as opposed to 2500 words per question.

While we are not accepting attachments to this first round of the evaluation process, we do ask that, where appropriate, you describe the type of evidence you have on your program's effectiveness. If your school or district makes the semifinals you will be asked to provide documentation of this evidence. This may include such things as schedules, student and teacher portfolios, assessment data, video and audio tapes, internal and external communications, and other documents. This evidence will be necessary information to help evaluators understand the depth and scope of your program.

Completed applications must be received no later than July 15, 1996.

NOTE: The criteria section that follows these questions may help you structure and focus your responses.

Describe the extent to which the Mission and Principles are reflected in your approach to professional development. Although it is not necessary to address each Principle separately, you must explain how you are working to fulfill all of the Principles.
Portray the direct and ongoing connection between your professional development practice and improved student learning.
Discuss evidence of how your professional development efforts have improved teaching effectiveness and student learning.
Describe any plans to strengthen and/or expand your professional development efforts and why you believe others might want to consider adopting/adapting them.

CRITERIA

Your response will be reviewed for how well your professional development activities are aligned with the Mission and Principles of Professional Development. While reviewers will use their best professional judgment, we anticipate that they also will use the following kinds of criteria and emphases as a guide to help them assess the quality of responses. You do not have to address each criterion separately, but you should be sure to include sufficient information throughout your responses for reviewers to make judgments about such basic factors as evidence of success, quality of the professional development activities, and usefulness to others.

Evidence of Success - 50 Points

Indicators are provided that the school or district's students are progressing toward or achieving at high standards of learning.
Based on a range of assessments, the professional development program is shown to be connected directly to enhanced teaching effectiveness and student learning.

Related Questions

Portray the direct and ongoing connection between your professional development practice and improved student learning.

Submit evidence of how teaching practice has become more effective and student learning has improved.

Quality of the Program - 30 Points

The extent to which the school or district's professional development is aligned with the Mission and Principles of Professional Development.

Related Question

Describe the extent to which the Mission and Principles are reflected in your approach to professional development. Although it is not necessary to address each Principle separately, you must explain how you are working to fulfill all of the Principles.

Usefulness to Others - 20 Points

The program's content, strategies and supports can be adopted or adapted by other schools and districts working to improve their professional development practices.
Resources are reasonable in light of expected benefits and in comparison with other professional development alternatives.

REVIEW PROCESS

An initial reading of applications will be done by the Professional Development Team and other knowledgeable staff of the U.S. Department of Education representing diverse expertise and perspectives related to professional development and education reform. This first reading will eliminate applications which do not respond to or minimally meet the criteria. The next stage of review will include broad outside representation of expert practitioners and policymakers. Each application will have multiple readers and will be ranked according to how well it does when judged against an evaluation framework based on the criteria and Principles. Up to twenty semifinalists will be chosen through this process which may include telephone interviews with project contacts to discuss and clarify information. Site visits will be conducted to collect additional data on the semifinalists. This data will be used in selecting up to ten schools or districts for recognition.

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1965, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1880-0534 The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather the data needed, and complete and review the information collection. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate(s) or suggestions for improving this form, please write to: U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC 20202-4651. If you have any comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual submission of this form, write directly to: Terry Dozier, Special Advisor on Teaching, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-0100.

NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM FOR MODEL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

APPLICATION FORM

Please give the names and positions of the Professional Development Planning Team involved in the completion of this application.

        Name                                             Position

Applicant

I. If Applying At the School Level

        School Address_________________________________________________

                         
                      _________________________________________________

                         
                      _________________________________________________

        Telephone __________________

        Fax ________________________

        E-Mail Address _____________

        Name of Principal / Lead Teacher_______________________________

II. If Applying At the District Level

        Name of Superintendent_________________________________________

        District Name__________________________________________________

        District Address_______________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________

                        _______________________________________________

        District Telephone _________________

        E-Mail Address ___________________

        Applicant's Name and Title_____________________________________

        Date _____________________

Please list the sources of funding for your school or district's professional development.

Please attach your responses to the essay questions to this page.

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SITES

Total Number of Students _____
Type of School(s):
Pre-Kindergarten
Elementary
Middle
Junior High
Senior High
Population Category:
Urban
Suburban
Rural
Racial / ethnic composition of the students in your school(s):
___ % Native American or Native Alaskan
___ % Asian or Pacific Islander
___ % African American, not Hispanic origin
___ % Hispanic
___ % White, not Hispanic origin
___% Limited English Proficient students in the school
___ Number of languages Specify languages:
___ % Students who qualify for free/reduced price lunch
___ % Students receiving special education services
Special characteristics of your school or district which you believe are relevant to your application.

Submit your application to Terry Dozier, Special Advisor on Teaching, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202. The completed application must be received no later than July 15, 1996.

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